Magnetic-field-induced liquid phase catalysis over electrically conducting surface containing titanium dioxide

Abstract

In general, heterogeneous catalytic reactions in liquid phase can be enhanced by manipulation of relevant local environment conditions. Since the magnetic field may affect the molecular processes of catalytic reaction on the catalyst’s surface, it is of interest to explore the effect of magnetic field on the liquid phase reaction over a heterogeneous catalyst’s surface. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this study is to design a new heterogeneous catalytic system based on the idea that the catalytic activity can be controlled by applying electricity to induce magnetic field. Polypyrrole and titanium dioxide have been used as electrically conducting materials and catalytic active site, respectively. The magnetic field effects over electrically conducting surface loaded with titanium dioxide to induce the adsorption of organic substrate has been confirmed by oxidation of benzhydrol to benzophenone by using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. The results suggest the occurrence of the synergistic effect with the generated magnetic field and titanium dioxide. The study was also extended to the removal of methylene blue enhanced by the magnetic field effect. One suggests that the magnetic field generated by electric current induced the removal of methylene blue over electrically conducting polypyrrole containing titanium dioxide. As a global guide for future actions, this work opens new perspectives for the use of electrically conducting surface containing titanium dioxide for liquid phase magnetic-field-induced oxidation catalysis.