Development and photocatalytic mechanism of monolayer Bi₂MoO₆ nanosheets for the selective oxidation of benzylic alcohols

Abstract

Monolayer Bi₂MoO₆ nanosheets have been successfully prepared for the first time via a bottom-top approach with surfactant assistance, and show 8 times higher activity than bulk Bi₂MoO₆ for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Ultrafast charge separation and more acid-base active sites on the monolayer nanosheets are considered to be responsible for the robust photoactivity.