Highly selective photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexene and ethanol coupled with H2 evolution over ZnCdS/Ni†

The photocatalytic production of high-value-added multi-carbon compounds and hydrogen is a green and environmentally friendly industrial production method. In this study, the highly selective oxidation of cyclohexene and ethanol was successfully achieved in a photocatalytic system through the synergistic effect of ZnCdS and Ni, with concurrent hydrogen evolution. Cyclohexene was oxidized to 3,3′-dicyclohexene with a high selectivity of 90.0%, accompanied by the release of hydrogen at a rate of 2.03 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. In the ethanol oxidation system, acetal could also be generated at a highly selective rate of 21.8 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and the hydrogen production rate reached 27.6 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. In addition, the catalytic mechanism of highly selective oxidation coupling hydrogen evolution of these two products in different systems was proposed based on the results of free radical control experiments. This study introduces a novel approach for the synthesis and broad application of noble-metal-free photocatalysts, which are suitable for the highly selective preparation of value-added multi-carbon compounds coupled with hydrogen evolution.