Synthesis of TiO2/Bi2MoO6 Composite for Partial Oxidation of Aromatic Alkanes under Visible-Light Illumination

Novel TiO2/Bi2MoO6 heterostructures with TiO2 particles loaded on a Bi2MoO6 sheet were fabricated by a simple solvothermal process. A series of characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, UV–vis DRS, and electrochemical impedance approach were used to study the physicochemical properties of the as-prepared materials. The TiO2/Bi2MoO6 composites were used for partial oxidation of aromatic alkanes into benzaldehyde and its derivatives using O2 as an oxidant under the irradiation of visible light. At a TiO2-to-Bi2MoO6 molar ratio of 0.10, the composite exhibits excellent performance with benzaldehyde production rate being 1036.8 μmol·g–1·h–1. The outstanding performance is ascribed to enhanced separation of charge carriers by loading TiO2 nanoparticles. The as-prepared composites are reusable photocatalysts for partial oxidation of aromatic alkanes under ambient conditions.