Utilization of photocatalytic hydrogen evolved (Zn,Sn)(O,S) nanoparticles to reduce 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol

To reduce 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) using sodium borohydrate (NaBH4) in the presence of catalyst has been widely accepted in catalysis field. Many works have claimed that the reduction reaction cannot occur without using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. Herein, we reported the hydrogen evolved Sn(II)-doped Zn(O,S) photocatalyst was synthesized by using precipitation method at 90 degrees C and then utilized to completely reduce 30 ppm 4-NP to 4-AP under 4 x 6 W UV lamp illumination (0.088 mW/cm(2)) in 3 h without using NaBH4 as a hydrogen source. It was observed that pure Zn(O,S) nanoparticles did not exhibit a 4-NP reduction, however Zn(O,S) with Sn(II) cation doping showed a 4-NP reduction behavior, as indicated by UV vis absorbance and HPLC results. The role of Sn(II) doped into Zn(O,S) is considerably important to enhance the amount of photo induced hydrogen ions for reducing 4-NP to 4-AP on catalyst surfaces. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.