This study demonstrates the synthesis of an efficient photocatalyst, CuO/TiO2 heterojunction, for selective aerobic photo-oxidation of methanol to methyl formate.

Anatase TiO 2 nanosheets exposing 74% of {001} facets and nanospindles exposing 81% of {101} facets were hydrothermally synthesized with the aid of F and CH 3 COO -, respectively. Upon vanadia loading at a monolayer amount level, the {001} facets on TiO 2 nanosheets favored the deposition of octahedral vanadia species, but the {101} facets on TiO 2 nanospindles resulted in the formation of tetrahedral vanadia species. The shape effect of TiO 2 , in terms of its predominantly exposed crystal facets, on the catalytic performance of VO x /TiO 2 samples for selective reduction of NO with NH 3 was examined. The octahedral vanadia species on TiO 2nanosheets showed a significantly higher activity than the tetrahedral vanadia species on TiO 2 nanospindles.