Development of Organic Transformation Reactions Using Concerted Catalysis of Semiconductor Photocatalysts and Metal Nanoparticle Catalysts

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15359
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 27030:Catalyst and resource chemical process-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Akira 京都大学, 人間・環境学研究科, 助教 (30769443)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 光触媒 / 金属ナノ粒子 / 有機化合物変換 / 酸化チタン / 光照射

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The addition of metal co-catalysts to semiconductor photocatalysts is one of the common techniques to improve the photocatalytic activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of the addition of the supported metal catalysts without having photocatalytic activity into photocatalytic reaction systems. In the photocatalytic hydrogen production from methanol aqueous solution, the addition of the supported metal catalysts improved the photocatalytic activity compared to the pristine titanium dioxide photocatalysts without having co-catalyst and the hydrogen production rate was comparable to that of the conventional method that metal nanoparticles were directly supported onto the photocatalyst surface. In the photocatalytic cyanomethylation of benzene with acetonitrile, the developed method showed better photocatalytic activity than that of the conventional one. This study will provide another option in the addition methods of co-catalysts to semiconductor photocatalysts.

Free Research Field

光触媒

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在，酸化チタンに代表される光触媒は環境浄化など様々な用途で利用されているが，光触媒自体の性能を向上させることができれば更なる高機能化が達成可能になると期待される．本研究は，光触媒の活性を向上させるために添加する助触媒の添加方法に関するものである．本研究では，これまでに一般的に用いられてきた光触媒材料に助触媒を直接担持しない条件でも助触媒が機能することを見出した．得られた知見は光触媒の性能向上のための助触媒の添加方法に対して新しい選択肢を与えるものである．