Visible-Light Photocatalytic and Photo-bactericidal Activity of Ni-CuWO4/OTiO2 Composite†

Comprehensive Summary A series of nickel-doped copper tungstate/oxygen-rich TiO 2 heterojunction-constructed composites of x Ni-CuWO 4 /OTiO 2 were successfully prepared to demonstrate the enhancement of the visible-light photoactivity through promoting the photogenerated charge carrier separation efficiency. Of all these composites, 0.2Ni-CuWO 4 /OTiO 2 exhibits excellent and stable visible light photoactivity for the photooxidative coupling of benzylamine to the corresponding N -benzyl-1-phenymethanimine (BPMI) in air atmosphere. The conversion of benzylamine and the selectivity to BPMI reach 97% and 99%, respectively. The catalyst shows good cyclability with the conversion of benzylamine decreasing just by 22% after being repeated six times with the well-maintained selectivity of BPMI. The composite also exhibits excellent photo-bactericidal ability, which greatly inhibits the reproducing of both the Gram-positive bacteria ( e.g ., S. epidermidis ) and Gram-negative bacteria ( e.g ., E. coli ).