Improved photocatalysis is provided for chemical reactions involving hydrogen in two component plasmon-catalyst nanoparticles. The main idea of this work is to configure the optical illumination of the nano-articles to suppress formation of an undesirable hydride phase in the nanoparticles. This idea is broadly applicable to any chemical reaction involving hydrogen. Specific examples considered experimentally in this work are acetylene hydrogenation to produce ethylene, carbon dioxide reduction and ammonia synthesis.

Improved photocatalysis is provided for chemical reactions involving hydrogen in two component plasmon-catalyst nanoparticles. The main idea of this work is to configure the optical illumination of the nano-articles to suppress formation of an undesirable hydride phase in the nanoparticles. This idea is broadly applicable to any chemical reaction involving hydrogen. Specific examples considered experimentally in this work are acetylene hydrogenation to produce ethylene, carbon dioxide reduction and ammonia synthesis.

A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains carbon nitride particles, a polymer composite comprising a conducting polymer and a carbon nanomaterial, the polymer composite being disposed on the carbon nitride particles, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on both the polymer composite and the carbon nitride particles. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

A nanocomposite photocatalyst is provided. The nanocomposite photocatalyst contains carbon nitride particles, a polymer composite comprising a conducting polymer and a carbon nanomaterial, the polymer composite being disposed on the carbon nitride particles, and noble metal nanoparticles disposed on both the polymer composite and the carbon nitride particles. Also provided is a method of forming the nanocomposite photocatalyst and a method of photodegrading an organic pollutant in water using the nanocomposite photocatalyst and visible light irradiation.

The invention relates to a method of preparing titanium dioxide-coated nanostars. Titanium precursors are hydrolyzed into crystalline TiO.sub.2 polymorphs at low temperatures, allowing the delicate morphology of the nanostars to be preserved while maintaining their desirable photocatalytic properties.

The invention relates to a method of preparing titanium dioxide-coated nanostars. Titanium precursors are hydrolyzed into crystalline TiO.sub.2 polymorphs at low temperatures, allowing the delicate morphology of the nanostars to be preserved while maintaining their desirable photocatalytic properties.

A process for direct esterification of an alkyl aldehyde with an alkyl alcohol to produce an alkyl ester is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an alkyl aldehyde with an alkyl alcohol in the presence of an Au/TiOa catalyst, a base and an enal or oxygen to form an ester and an aldehyde. The process avoids liberation of water and avoids the step of oxidation of the alkyl aldehyde to an alkyl acid.

A process for direct esterification of an alkyl aldehyde with an alkyl alcohol to produce an alkyl ester is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an alkyl aldehyde with an alkyl alcohol in the presence of an Au/TiOa catalyst, a base and an enal or oxygen to form an ester and an aldehyde. The process avoids liberation of water and avoids the step of oxidation of the alkyl aldehyde to an alkyl acid.

The present invention provides compositions and methods of making bimetallic metal alloys of composition for example, Rh/Pd; Rh/Pt; Rh/Ag; Rh/Au; Rh/Ru; Rh/Co; Rh/Ir; Rh/Ni; Ir/Pd; Ir/Pt; Ir/Ag; Ir/Au; Pd/Ni; Pd/Pt; Pd/Ag; Pd/Au; Pt/Ni; Pt/Ag; Pt/Au; Ni/Ag; Ni/Au; or Ag/Au prepared using microwave irradiation.

The present invention provides compositions and methods of making bimetallic metal alloys of composition for example, Rh/Pd; Rh/Pt; Rh/Ag; Rh/Au; Rh/Ru; Rh/Co; Rh/Ir; Rh/Ni; Ir/Pd; Ir/Pt; Ir/Ag; Ir/Au; Pd/Ni; Pd/Pt; Pd/Ag; Pd/Au; Pt/Ni; Pt/Ag; Pt/Au; Ni/Ag; Ni/Au; or Ag/Au prepared using microwave irradiation.