• Trari, Mohamed
• Djaballah, Ahmed Malek
• Palmisano, Leonardo
• Bagtache, Radia
• Bellardita, Marianna
• Umair, Muhammad

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In this work, MBi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>‐P25 (M = Cu, Ni, Co, Zn) composites are successfully synthesized by a simple ball milling method by varying some parameters (rotation speed, rotation time, metal/TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> ratio) to optimize the preparation conditions. The noble metal‐free TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐based photocatalysts are used to carry out the partial oxidation of glucose and glycerol with the simultaneous H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> production under simulated solar light irradiation. Starting from glucose, 2.6 mmol of H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> are obtained with a conversion of 34%, along with arabinose, formic acid and gluconic acid as main intermediates. By using glycerol, 3.2 mmol of H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> are produced, with 17% conversion and the production of dihydroxyacetone and glycolic acid. The composites exhibit higher activity than pure P25 and CuBi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> (CBO). The produced H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> amount is comparable to that reported in the literature by using Pt–TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> photocatalysts. This study offers a paradigm for the future design of bifunctional photocatalysts for simultaneous noble metal‐free H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> production and biomass valorization under environmentally friendly conditions with a possible scale up of the process.</jats:p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• milling
• composite
• ball milling
• ball milling