Preparation of a platinum nanoparticle catalyst located near photocatalyst titanium oxide and its catalytic activity to convert benzyl alcohols to the corresponding ethers

A novel platinum nanoparticle catalyst closely located near the surface of titanium oxide, PtNP/TiO2, has been prepared. This catalyst has both the properties of a photocatalyst and a metal nanoparticle catalyst, and acquired environmentally friendly catalytic activity, which cannot be achieved by just one of these catalysts, to afford ethers from benzyl alcohols under the wavelength of 420 nm.