Synthesis of In2S3−CNT nanocomposite for selective reduction under visible light - Journal of Materials Chemistry A (RSC Publishing)
In2S3−carbon nanotube (In2S3−CNT) nanocomposites have been prepared via a facile refluxing wet chemistry process. The as-synthesized In2S3−CNT can be used as selective and active visible-light-driven photocatalysts toward hydrogenation of nitroaromatics to amines in water. Photoirradiation (λ > 420 nm) of In2S3−CNT photocatalysts suspended in water containing nitroaromatics produces the corresponding amines with high yields. The control experiments reveal that the inert atmosphere and the addition of hole scavenger are both indispensable for the visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogenation of nitroaromatics over In2S3−CNT. In comparison with blank In2S3, the obviously enhanced photocatalytic performance of In2S3−CNT photocatalyst is mainly ascribed to the unique physicochemical properties of CNT, which enhances the adsorptivity of substrate and performs as an electron reservoir to trap electrons, therefore hindering the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. It is hoped that the current work on facile synthesis of semiconductor In2S3−CNT nanocomposites can broaden the applications of semiconductor−carbon based composite photocatalysts in the field of photocatalytic selective organic transformations under mild conditions.
