1965-09-9

Basic information

• Product Name: 4,4'-Oxydiphenol
• Synonyms: Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) Ether 4,4'-Oxydiphenol;4,4'-Dihydroxydiphenyl Ether, 98.0%(GC);BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL) ETHER;4',4-OXIDIPHENOL;4',4-OXYDIPHENOL;4,4'-OXYDIPHENOL;4',4-DIHYDROXYDIPHENYL ETHER;4,4'-DIHYDROXYDIPHENYL ETHER
• CAS NO: 1965-09-9
• Molecular Formula: C₁₂H₁₀O₃
• Molecular Weight: 202.21
• EINECS: 217-809-1
• Product Categories: Aromatic Ethers;Biphenyl & Diphenyl ether;Color Former & Related Compounds;Developer;Diphenyl Ethers (for High-Performance Polymer Research);Functional Materials;Reagent for High-Performance Polymer Research
• Mol File: 1965-09-9.mol
• Article Data: 24

Chemical Properties

• Melting Point: 163-168 °C
• Boiling Point: 300.32°C (rough estimate)
• Flash Point: 183.158 °C
• Appearance: Off-white/Amorphous Powder
• Density: 1.1868 (rough estimate)
• Refractive Index: 1.5430 (estimate)
• Storage Temp.: Room Temperature
• Solubility: DMSO (Sparingly), Methanol (Slightly)
• PKA: 9.90±0.15(Predicted)
• CAS DataBase Reference: 4,4'-Oxydiphenol(CAS DataBase Reference)
• NIST Chemistry Reference: 4,4'-Oxydiphenol(1965-09-9)
• EPA Substance Registry System: 4,4'-Oxydiphenol(1965-09-9)

Safety Data

• Safety Statements: 24/25
• RTECS: SM6040000
• Hazardous Substances Data: 1965-09-9(Hazardous Substances Data)

Usage

Chemical Properties

off-white amorphous powder

Safety Profile

Poison by intraperitoneal route. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Synthetic route

4,4'-dibromodiphenyl ether (2050-47-7) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Stage #1: 4,4'-dibromodiphenyl ether With N,N′-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)oxalamide; acetophenone; sodium hydroxide In dimethyl sulfoxide at 130℃; for 7h; Stage #2: With carbon dioxide; pyrographite at 80℃; for 3h; pH=9; Reagent/catalyst; pH-value;	87%
With sodium hydroxide; copper at 210℃;
With water; sodium hydroxide Large scale;

4,4'-oxydiphenylene diamine (101-80-4) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Stage #1: 4,4'-oxydiphenylene diamine With sulfuric acid; sodium nitrite at 0℃; Stage #2: With sulfuric acid In nitrobenzene at 130℃; for 0.666667h; Temperature; Solvent;	81.2%
With uranyl nitrate hydrate; water; trifluoroacetic acid In acetonitrile for 48h; Irradiation; Inert atmosphere;	44%
Diazotization;
Diazotization;

D-(-)-quinic acid (77-95-2) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + hydroquinone (123-31-9)

Conditions	Yield
With Amberlyst-15; air In toluene at 100℃; for 24h; Reagent/catalyst; Solvent; Temperature; Time;	A 7% B 71%
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: Amberlyst-15 / acetonitrile / 24 h / 50 °C 2: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 17 h / 100 °C View Scheme

1,5-quinide (665-27-0) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + hydroquinone (123-31-9)

Conditions	Yield
With Amberlyst-15 In toluene at 100℃; for 17h;	A n/a B 52%

hydroquinone (123-31-9) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
With Amberlyst-15 In toluene at 100℃; for 144h;	48%
With Dowex (50x8x400) at 120℃; for 0.416667h; Microwave irradiation;	41%
With 3-methylbutyric acid; zinc(II) chloride

(4,4'-diacetoxydiphenyl) ether (23446-80-2) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
With sodium hydroxide In methanol; water for 2h;	25%

4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ether (2444-89-5) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
With sodium hydroxide; copper at 210℃;

bis(4-methoxyphenyl) ether (1655-74-9) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
With hydrogen bromide; acetic anhydride
With hydrogen bromide; acetic acid at 140℃;
With aluminium trichloride; xylene
With hydrogen bromide at 160℃; for 16h;

2-monochlorophenol (95-57-8) → p-cresol (106-44-5) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + ortho-cresol (95-48-7) + phenol (108-95-2)

Conditions	Yield
With potassium hydroxide In water at 440℃; under 195016 Torr; Product distribution; Further Variations:; Reagents;

4-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)benzaldehyde (91378-31-3) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
With 3-chloro-benzenecarboperoxoic acid Baeyer-Villiger oxidation;

4-fluorobenzaldehyde (459-57-4) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: K2CO3 / N,N-dimethyl-acetamide / Heating 2: mCPBA View Scheme

hydroquinone (123-31-9) + cinchomeronic acid anhydride → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: K2CO3 / N,N-dimethyl-acetamide / Heating 2: mCPBA View Scheme

1-bromo-4-methoxy-benzene (104-92-7) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: copper; hydrogen / 200 °C 2: AlCl3; xylene View Scheme
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: copper; copper (II)-acetate / 190 - 200 °C 2: aqueous HBr; acetic acid / 140 °C View Scheme

potassium p-methoxyphenolate (1122-93-6) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: copper; hydrogen / 200 °C 2: AlCl3; xylene View Scheme
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: copper; copper (II)-acetate / 190 - 200 °C 2: aqueous HBr; acetic acid / 140 °C View Scheme

para-iodoanisole (696-62-8) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: copper 2: aqueous HBr; acetic acid anhydride View Scheme

bis(4-iodophenyl) ether (28896-49-3) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
With sodium hydroxide; copper; copper(I) chloride In water	33.5 g (83%)

D-(-)-quinic acid (77-95-2) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: Amberlyst-15; air / toluene / 24 h / 100 °C 2: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 144 h / 100 °C View Scheme
Multi-step reaction with 3 steps 1: sodium hypochlorite solution; sulfuric acid / water / 3 h / 20 °C 2: Amberlyst 15 / toluene / 1.5 h / 100 °C 3: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 144 h / 100 °C View Scheme
Multi-step reaction with 3 steps 1: sodium hypochlorite solution; sulfuric acid / water / 3 h / 20 °C 2: Amberlyst-15 / 1,4-dioxane / 0.08 h / 100 °C 3: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 144 h / 100 °C View Scheme
Multi-step reaction with 3 steps 1: Amberlyst-15 / acetonitrile / 24 h / 50 °C 2: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 17 h / 100 °C 3: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 144 h / 100 °C View Scheme

3(R),5(R)-trihydroxycyclohexanone (95639-53-5) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: Amberlyst 15 / toluene / 1.5 h / 100 °C 2: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 144 h / 100 °C View Scheme
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: Amberlyst-15 / 1,4-dioxane / 0.08 h / 100 °C 2: Amberlyst-15 / toluene / 144 h / 100 °C View Scheme

4-chloro-phenol (106-48-9) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + hydroxyquinone (2474-72-8) + hydroquinone (123-31-9) + p-benzoquinone (106-51-4)

Conditions	Yield
With xH2O*Mg0.1Zn6(Si7.9Al0.1)O20(OH)4 at 25℃; Quantum yield; Kinetics; Reagent/catalyst; Irradiation;

4,4'-oxydiacetophenone (2615-11-4) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 2 steps 1: 3-chloro-benzenecarboperoxoic acid / dichloromethane / 5 h / 20 °C 2: sodium hydroxide / methanol; water / 2 h View Scheme

diphenylether (101-84-8) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9)

Conditions	Yield
Multi-step reaction with 3 steps 1: aluminum (III) chloride / dichloromethane / 24 h / 0 °C 2: 3-chloro-benzenecarboperoxoic acid / dichloromethane / 5 h / 20 °C 3: sodium hydroxide / methanol; water / 2 h View Scheme

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → cyclohexane (110-82-7)

Conditions	Yield
With hydrogen In dodecane at 200℃; under 15001.5 Torr; for 2h;	99.9%
With rhodium contaminated with carbon; N-methyldiethanolamine trifluoromethanesulfonate; hydrogen at 120℃; under 30003 Torr; for 6h; Autoclave;	91.5%
With carbon nanotubes-supported ruthenium; hydrogen In dodecane; water at 220℃; under 37503.8 Torr; for 3h; Autoclave;	64 %Chromat.
With hydrogen at 130℃; under 15001.5 Torr; for 6h; Ionic liquid; Autoclave; Schlenk technique;	99.4 %Chromat.

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → bispropargyl ether of 4,4'-oxydiphenol

Conditions	Yield
	97%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (18162-48-6) → (4,4'-oxybis(4,1-phenylene)bis(oxy))bis(tert-butyldimethylsilane)

Conditions	Yield
With 1H-imidazole In dichloromethane at 20℃;	96%
With 1H-imidazole; dmap In dichloromethane; N,N-dimethyl-formamide for 3h;	93%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → (4,4'-diacetoxydiphenyl) ether (23446-80-2)

Conditions	Yield
With acetic anhydride; sulfuric acid at 20℃; for 2h;	95.4%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → C12H8O3(2-)*2Na(1+)

Conditions	Yield
With sodium hydroxide In butanone at 100℃; for 3h;	95%

trifluoromethylsulfonic anhydride (358-23-6) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → 4,4′-bis(trifluorosulfonyloxy)diphenyl ether

Conditions	Yield
With pyridine In dichloromethane at 0 - 20℃; for 48h; Inert atmosphere;	93%
Stage #1: 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether With pyridine In dichloromethane at 0℃; for 0.166667h; Inert atmosphere; Stage #2: trifluoromethylsulfonic anhydride In dichloromethane at 0℃; Inert atmosphere;	82%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 1-(4-fluorophenyl)ethanone (403-42-9) → bis[p-(p-acetylphenoxy)phenyl]ether (24190-46-3)

Conditions	Yield
With potassium carbonate In N,N-dimethyl acetamide Heating;	89%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 4-chlorpyridine hydrochloride (7379-35-3) → 4,4'-[oxybis(4,1-phenyleneoxy)]dipyridine

Conditions	Yield
With 2-Picolinic acid; potassium phosphate; copper(l) iodide In dimethyl sulfoxide at 140℃; for 72h; Inert atmosphere;	89%

formaldehyd (50-00-0) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + dimethyl amine (124-40-3) → 2,5,2',5'-tetra(dimethylaminemethylene)-4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylether (912474-70-5)

Conditions	Yield
In ethanol; water for 3h; Mannich reaction; Heating;	88%

2-chloro-5-nitropyridine (4548-45-2) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → 4,4'-bis(5-nitro-2-pyridinoxy)diphenyl ether

Conditions	Yield
With potassium carbonate In N,N-dimethyl-formamide at 20 - 70℃; for 0.108333h; Inert atmosphere;	88%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + propargyl bromide (106-96-7) → bispropargyl ether of 4,4'-oxydiphenol

Conditions	Yield
With potassium hydroxide In acetone for 16h; Heating;	86%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + pentafluorobenzoylchloride (2251-50-5) → 4,4'-bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzoyloxy)diphenyl ether (870162-42-8)

Conditions	Yield
With triethylamine In dichloromethane at 10 - 20℃;	86%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)benzoic acid (85-56-3) → C40H26O9

Conditions	Yield
Stage #1: 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether; 2-(4-chlorobenzoyl)benzoic acid With potassium carbonate In N,N-dimethyl acetamide; toluene Heating; Stage #2: With potassium carbonate In N,N-dimethyl acetamide at 170℃; for 12h;	85%

1-Bromoheptane (629-04-9) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → 4,4’-oxybis((heptyloxy)benzene)

Conditions	Yield
With potassium carbonate In N,N-dimethyl-formamide at 80℃;	83.6%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + hexadecanyl bromide (112-82-3) → 4-(4-(hexadecyloxy)phenoxy)phenol

Conditions	Yield
With potassium carbonate In ethanol at 90℃; for 24h;	82.9%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 1-dodecylbromide (143-15-7) → C24H34O3

Conditions	Yield
With potassium carbonate In ethanol at 90℃; for 24h;	81.5%

morpholine (110-91-8) + formaldehyd (50-00-0) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → 3,3'-di(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)-4,4'-dihydroxy diphenyl ether (946513-72-0)

Conditions	Yield
Stage #1: morpholine; 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether In toluene at 25℃; for 0.5h; Stage #2: formaldehyd In toluene at 80℃; for 9h; Stage #3: morpholine; formaldehyd In toluene at 80℃; for 8.16667h;	81.2%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + tert-butyl N-({[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]amino}methanethioyl)carbamate (145013-05-4) → 1,3-di(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-[4-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)phenyl]isourea (1073524-89-6) + 4,4'-bis[N,N'-di(tert-butoxycarbonyl)isoureido]diphenyl ether (1073524-85-2)

Conditions	Yield
With triethylamine; mercury dichloride In dichloromethane at 0 - 20℃; for 16h;	A 77% B 5%
With triethylamine; mercury dichloride In dichloromethane at 0 - 20℃; for 21h;	A 4% B 67%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 4-fluorobenzaldehyde (459-57-4) → C26H18O5 (133387-15-2)

Conditions	Yield
With potassium carbonate In N,N-dimethyl acetamide Heating;	76%

formaldehyd (50-00-0) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + aniline (62-53-3) → C28H24N2O3 (591766-84-6)

Conditions	Yield
With water In toluene at 80℃; for 5h;	75%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → 4,4'-oxybis(4,1-phenylene) disulfofluoridate

Conditions	Yield
With fluorosulfonyl fluoride; triethylamine In dichloromethane at 20℃; for 12h;	75%

(E)-3-[4-[6-(2-methylprop-2-enoyloxy)hexoxy]phenyl]prop-2-enoic acid (125274-23-9) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → CLM_005

Conditions	Yield
With benzotriazol-1-ol; N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethylcarbodiimide; triethylamine In N,N-dimethyl-formamide at 20℃; for 24h;	70%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 3-quinuclidinol (1619-34-7) → 4-[4-(1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yloxy)phenoxy]phenol + 4,4'-di(1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yloxy)-diphenyl ether

Conditions	Yield
	A 68% B n/a
	A n/a B 7%

2-bromo-pyridine (109-04-6) + 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) → 2,2'-[oxybis(4,1-phenyleneoxy)]dipyridine

Conditions	Yield
With 2-Picolinic acid; potassium phosphate; copper(l) iodide In dimethyl sulfoxide at 90℃; for 24h; Inert atmosphere;	65%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + epichlorohydrin (106-89-8) → 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether diglycidyl ether (19389-73-2)

Conditions	Yield
Stage #1: 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether With sodium hydride In N,N-dimethyl-formamide for 0.166667h; Inert atmosphere; Stage #2: epichlorohydrin In N,N-dimethyl-formamide at 20℃; for 21h; Inert atmosphere; Stage #3: With water In N,N-dimethyl-formamide at 20℃; Inert atmosphere;	64%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + 1-bromo-3-propanol (627-18-9) → 4,4'-(3-hydroxypropan-1-oxy)diphenyl ether (1059628-28-2)

Conditions	Yield
Stage #1: 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether With potassium carbonate In acetone at 50℃; Stage #2: 1-bromo-3-propanol In acetone Reflux;	57%

4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (1965-09-9) + subphthalocyanine (36530-06-0) → (B(N6C24H12))2O2C6H4OC6H4 (1227471-68-2)

Conditions	Yield
In 1,2-dichloro-benzene at 180.5℃; for 39h; Inert atmosphere;	55%
In 1,2-dichloro-benzene (Ar) chloro boron subphthalocyanine and bisphenol in 1,2-dichlorobenzenewere heated at reflux (180.5°C) for 39 h; react. mixt. was cooled, solvent was totary evapd., purification by flash chromy. on silica (CH2Cl2 and THF);	55%

Upstream product

• 2444-89-5 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ether 
• 1655-74-9 bis(4-methoxyphenyl) ether 
• 2050-47-7 4,4'-dibromodiphenyl ether 
• 101-80-4 4,4'-oxydiphenylene diamine 
• 123-31-9 hydroquinone 
• 95-57-8 2-monochlorophenol 
• 28896-49-3 bis(4-iodophenyl) ether 
• 106-48-9 4-chloro-phenol 
• 2615-11-4 4,4'-oxydiacetophenone 
• 23446-80-2 (4,4'-diacetoxydiphenyl) ether 
• 101-84-8 diphenylether 
• 95639-53-5 3(R),5(R)-trihydroxycyclohexanone 
• 665-27-0 1,5-quinide 
• 77-95-2 D-(-)-quinic acid 

Downstream Products

• 861009-05-4 4-[4-(6-bromo-hexyloxy)-phenoxy]-phenol 
• 7494-55-5 NSC₄₀₂₃₂₁ 
• 63538-16-9 bis-(4-carboxymethoxy-phenyl)-ether 
• 1655-74-9 bis(4-methoxyphenyl) ether 
• 63538-13-6 4,4'-oxy di(ethyl 2-phenoxy-2-methylpropionate) 
• 63538-31-8 2-{4-[4-(1-Ethoxycarbonyl-pentyloxy)-phenoxy]-phenoxy}-hexanoic acid ethyl ester 
• 63538-32-9 2-{4-[4-(1-Ethoxycarbonyl-hexyloxy)-phenoxy]-phenoxy}-heptanoic acid ethyl ester 
• 63538-36-3 2-{4-[4-(1-Ethoxycarbonyl-undecyloxy)-phenoxy]-phenoxy}-dodecanoic acid ethyl ester 
• 24190-46-3 bis[p-(p-acetylphenoxy)phenyl]ether 
• 106-51-4 p-benzoquinone 
• 880134-91-8 4,4'-oxybiphenol dinonanoate 
• 123-31-9 hydroquinone 
• 63538-17-0 4,4'-oxy di(ethyl 2-phenoxypropionate) 
• 912474-70-5 2,5,2',5'-tetra(dimethylaminemethylene)-4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylether 

Relevant articles and documents

Investigations into the structure-activity relationship in gemini QACs based on biphenyl and oxydiphenyl linker

Eighteen novel gemini quaternary ammonium compounds were synthesized to examine the effect of linker nature, aliphatic chain length and their relative position on antibacterial and antifungal activity. The synthesized compounds showed strong bacteriostatic activity against a panel of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and two fungi. Some of these compounds exhibited a wider and more potent antimicrobial spectrum than commonly-used antiseptics, such as benzalkonium chloride (BAC), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) and octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT).

Preparation method of 4, 4 '-dihydroxy diphenyl ether

The invention discloses a preparation method of 4, 4 '-dihydroxy diphenyl ether. The process is as follows. The preparation method comprises the following steps: reacting 4, 4 '-dibromo diphenyl etherwith an alkaline aqueous solution, dimethyl sulfoxide, a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst containing copper ions and a ligand compound A to generate sodium phenolate; precipitating, separating and removing the catalyst, then introducing carbon dioxide gas to replace 4, 4 '-dihydroxy diphenyl ether, and recrystallizing the 4, 4'-dihydroxy diphenyl ether crude product by using an organic solvent to obtain a 4, 4 '-dihydroxy diphenyl ether finished product with the purity of 99% or above. The invention provides a preparation method of 2, 3, 5-tetramethylpiperidine. High purity and simple process, the preparation method is low in pollution and low in production cost; according to the method, the problems of high-temperature and high-pressure hydrolysis, high energy consumption, low safety factor, low yield and the like in the prior art are solved by applying a catalytic amount of copper ion-containing inorganic catalyst and ligand, carbon dioxide is used for acidolysis, ions limited by electronic-grade products are prevented from being introduced, and meanwhile, the method is suitable for industrial production in the aspects of cost and operation.

Two-Dimensional Layered Zinc Silicate Nanosheets with Excellent Photocatalytic Performance for Organic Pollutant Degradation and CO2 Conversion

Two-dimensional (2D) photocatalysts are highly attractive for their great potential in environmental remediation and energy conversion. Herein, we report a novel layered zinc silicate (LZS) photocatalyst synthesized by a liquid-phase epitaxial growth route using silica derived from vermiculite, a layered silicate clay mineral, as both the lattice-matched substrate and Si source. The epitaxial growth of LZS is limited in the 2D directions, thus generating the vermiculite-type crystal structure and ultrathin nanosheet morphology with thicknesses of 8–15 nm and a lateral size of about 200 nm. Experimental observations and DFT calculations indicated that LZS has a superior band alignment for the degradation of organic pollutants and reduction of CO2 to CO. The material exhibited efficient photocatalytic performance for 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) degradation and CO2 conversion into CO and is the first example of a claylike 2D photocatalyst with strong photooxidation and photoreduction capabilities.