Achieving high selectivity in photoelectrochemical oxidation of glycerol on WO3 nanosheets coupled with TiO2 nanorods arrays.

[Display omitted] • A WO 3 /TiO 2 photoelectrode was prepared, showcasing the synergistic interplay between the two materials. • Different levels of WO 3 loading have distinct impacts on the photoelectrochemical properties and glycerol oxidation performance of the composite material. • The formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction between TiO 2 and WO 3 significantly improved surface charge separation efficiency. • The high-selective conversion of glycerol is accomplished through the synergistic interaction between TiO 2 and WO 3. Developing highly efficient photocatalysts for the selective conversion of glycerol into valuable chemicals is of paramount importance. However, achieving the selective oxidation of glycerol to valuable C 3 chemicals poses significant challenges. In this study, we employed a two-step hydrothermal method to synthesize a photoelectrochemical (PEC) photocatalyst composed of WO 3 nanosheets assembled on TiO 2 nanorod arrays. The synergistic interaction between WO 3 and TiO 2 led to outstanding performance in the selective conversion of glycerol (GLY) into glyceraldehyde (GLD) and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA). The photocatalyst achieved a selectivity of 61% for GLD and 92% for GLD + DHA, with formation rates of 319 and 160 mmol m-2h−1, respectively. Despite the excellent charge transfer properties of TiO 2 nanorods, they displayed suboptimal glycerol conversion rates and tended to oxidize glycerol into lower-value products. The introduction of WO 3 nanosheets in the Z-scheme heterojunction improved charge separation, enhanced glycerol adsorption and facilitated the desorption of GLD and DHA, thus improving the selectivity of GLD + DHA. This study unveils a promising approach to efficiently oxidize glycerol and demonstrates the crucial role of catalyst design in achieving selective and high-yield chemical transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]