Interface boosted highly efficient selective photooxidation in Bi3O4Br/Bi2O3 heterojunctions

Selective photooxidation of amines to biologically important imines is in great demand for industrial applications. The conversion efficiency and selectivity of the process are strongly dependent on the activation of photocatalytic molecular oxygen (O2) into reactive oxygen species. Here, we propose the construction of rich interfaces to boost photocatalytic O2 activation by facilitating the transfer of photocarriers. Taking Bi3O4Br/Bi2O3 heterojunctions as an example, rich interfaces facilitate electron transfer to adsorbed O2 for superoxide (O2·−) generation, thus achieving ≥ 98% conversion efficiency and selectivity for benzylamine and benzylamine derivatives. This study offers a valid method to design advanced photocatalysts for selective oxidation reactions.