Co-construction of oxygen vacancies and heterojunctions on CeO2 via one-step Fe doping for enhanced photocatalytic activity in Suzuki reaction

Under visible light irradiation, the free electrons excited by the Fe-doped CeO 2 semiconductor supports prepared via the one-step method are directionally transferred to the adjacent Pd metals. The electron-rich Pd accelerates the coupling of aryl halides and aryl boronic acids, and finally achieves a high catalytic activity for biphenyl products in the Suzuki reactions. • Catalysts with oxygen vacancy and heterojunction were prepared by one-step doping. • Oxygen vacancy and heterojunction enhanced the photocatalytic performance. • Fe doping induced the directional transfer of free electrons to Pd. Photocatalytic Suzuki reaction is attractive for utilization of renewable solar energy to produce biphenyl compounds at ambient temperature. Herein, a unique and controllable strategy is used to simultaneously create surface oxygen vacancies and interface heterojunctions on CeO 2 with double-layered nanotube morphology via one-step Fe doping engineering. The double-layered structure can improve light receiving areas of supports, meanwhile expose sufficient active sites (Pd). The abundant oxygen vacancies on the surface of CeO 2 and the CeO 2 @Fe 2 O 3 heterojunctions tremendously extend response region of visible light and promote separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. The directional transfer of electrons induced by Fe doping to Pd accelerates the oxidative addition in Suzuki reactions, finally achieves high catalytic activity for biphenyl products with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 1770 h −1 under visible light at ambient temperature, about 35 times higher than that of reaction without illumination.