Title: Heterogeneous photocatalysis: do we understand the power of light?

Abstract: 

 

I will show the development of hybrid catalysts based on TiO2 decorated with noble metal or metal oxide nanoparticles to trigger different organic transformation under mild conditions. Thus, transfer hydrogenations or C-C couplings can be triggered under room temperature and atmospheric pressures. Interestingly, the photocatalysts selectivity can be easily tuned by subjecting them to different photon energy or photon flux. I will also present an innovative approached to the extend catalysts’ lifetime, the ‘catalytic farming’, which uses the photocatalysts versatility to improve reusability, and our efforts to replace precious metals by inexpensive and earth-abundant materials.