Synergistic Effect of Cu,F-Codoping of Titanium Dioxide for Multifunctional Catalytic and Photocatalytic Studies

Titanium dioxide nanomaterials with improved catalytic and photocatalytic properties through codoping with copper and fluorine are synthesized and contain optimal textural and compositional properties, which are not possible without doping or with a single doping of Cu or F separately. The codoped systems promote the generation of a synergistic effect increasing activity of the systems in photocatalytic processes of both potential environmental or energy interest. The photocatalysts show very effective degradations of industrial and emerging contaminants such as ciprofloxacin (80% degradation) and naproxen (72% degradation) using UV light (300 W) in short periods of up to 15 min. An additional doping of the Cu,F-containing nanomaterials with palladium nanoparticles, makes the systems active as heterogeneous catalysts in Suzuki-Miyaura C-C coupling reactions. Interestingly, the Cu,F-containing systems do not need the doping of Pd to be active in C-C coupling showing good conversions and modest yields of biphenyl derivatives. Finally, Pd-doped systems are also successfully tested in the energy-related process of the photocatalytic dehalogenation-hydrogenation of different substrates, making these systems attractive for their potential future application in the dehalogenation of plastic or biomass wastes and for the preparation of solid or liquid fuels for cleaner energy generation.