Photochemical synthesis of CdS-MIL-125(Ti) with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde

In this study, we decorated CdS on the surface of MIL-125(Ti) using a photochemical method to prepare the CdS-MIL-125(Ti) nanocomposites. The obtained samples were characterized by a series of techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, electrochemical measurements and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The results show that the CdS nanoparticles were highly dispersed on surface of MIL-125(Ti). The combination will promote the separation of electron–hole pairs and increase the dispersity of CdS. The nanocomposites were subsequently used as photocatalysts in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde using the molecular oxygen as the oxidant. The nanocomposites show excellent performance in the photocatalytic reaction under visible light irradiation. The conversion of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde was about 20.1% with no by-products observed.