Solvent-free photo-thermocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol on Pd/TiO2(B) nanowires

TiO2(B) is typical crystal structure for TiO2, besides anatase, ruble and brookite. In this work, one-dimensionalTiO(2)(B) modified by Pd were prepared. The obtained Pd/TiO2(B) was used for photo-thermocatalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation. Well-matched heterostructure contact boundary between (111) planes of Pd nanoparticles and (003) planes of TiO2(B) was formed, which might facilitate interfacial photo-generated electrons transfer. The Pd/TiO2(B) catalyst exhibited enhanced the photo-thermocatalytic activity, attributed tothe synergistic effect of Pd, TiO2(B) and their well-matched heterojunction, and also the synergism between the thermocatalysis and photocatalysis.