New viewpoints of magnetic-field influence on photocatalysis via 2-propanol oxidation

Abstract

Magnetic-field effect on heterogenous photocatalysis was investigated on Pt/TiO2 by photocatalytic oxidation of 2-propanol. Two-level factorial design of dissolved oxygen concentration (DO), temperature, and magnetic flux density was applied for the first time. The high magnetic flux density with high DO significantly enhanced 22% 2-propanol oxidation. The singlet-triplet intersystem crossing of radicals, as well as the Lorentz force suppressing the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, enabled such an extraordinary magnetic effect. Moreover, paramagnetic oxygen and platinum on TiO2 reinforced the intersystem crossing, which contributed to the significant improvement of photocatalytic oxidation of 2-propanol under magnetic field.

Keywords

• Photocatalysis
• Magnetic field
• Pt/TiO2
• 2-propanol
• Lorentz force