Comparative study of cationic and neutral phthalocyanines in visible-light-driven photooxidation of 1-naphthol: synthesis and kinetic analysis
摘要
In this study, two heterogeneous photocatalysts, Pc-2@MCM-41 and Pc-4@MCM-41, were prepared by immobilizing a neutral zinc phthalocyanine (Pc-2) and its cationic analogue (Pc-4) onto mesoporous silica (MCM-41). The catalysts were characterized via FT-IR, solid-state UV–Vis, TGA, N2 sorption, XRD, SEM–EDS, and TEM techniques. Their photocatalytic performance was evaluated in the photo-oxygenation of 1-naphthol to 1,4-naphthoquinone under red LED irradiation (≈ 640 nm). Both catalysts exhibited high conversion (> 95%) and excellent selectivity (> 95%) under mild conditions. The Pc-4@MCM-41 material showed slightly higher activity, which we attribute to stronger electrostatic interactions with the MCM-41 surface. Kinetic analysis, based on pseudo-first-order and Langmuir–Hinshelwood models, supports a solid–liquid interfacial mechanism. The catalysts showed excellent reusability over multiple cycles without significant loss of activity or leaching. Compared with their homogeneous analogues, the heterogeneous systems offered enhanced practicality in terms of stability, recyclability, and solvent compatibility. Taken together, these findings indicate that Pc-2@MCM-41 and Pc-4@MCM-41 are promising and sustainable photocatalysts for selective aerobic oxidations under visible light.