Composite photocatalysts for selective photocatalytic oxidation of glycerol

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One of the key scientific challenges is the development of innovative photocatalytic processes for useful chemical transformations driven solely by (sun)light under mild conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure, ambient oxidizing/reducing agents). While significant progress has been made in the development of heterogeneous photocatalysts for solar water splitting and the decontamination of water and air, much less is known about selective photocatalytic synthetic reactions leading to high-value organic compounds. Recently, we have invented a new type of composite photocatalysts for use in selective photocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA). While glycerol is a cheap and abundant waste product of biodiesel production, DHA is a high-value chemical compound used, for example, in cosmetic industry and with a high prospect of being used in the synthesis of new biodegradable polymers. Based on our preliminary work, the main objectives of this project are: 1) to provide a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanism of the selective photocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to DHA, and 2) to investigate systematically the correlation between the structure and performance (activity, selectivity, stability) of the composite (light absorber + cocatalyst) photocatalysts. Particular attention will be given to synthesis and investigations of model composites with well-defined properties (size, structure) of the components. It is expected that this project will thus allow for the development of photocatalysts with enhanced performance in selective photocatalytic oxidation of glycerol, and will also provide new knowledge important for the design of further selective photocatalytic reactions.