Fabricating Surface-Functionalized CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆ Nanosheets for Visible-Light Photocatalytic Oxidation of Styrene

The halide perovskite (PVSK) material, an excellent light absorber with fast carrier kinetics, has received increased attention as a potential photocatalyst for organic synthesis. Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of chemically modified halide perovskite and its application as an efficient photocatalyst to convert styrene into benzaldehyde. A simple method is employed to synthesize the chemically modified CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆ nanosheets by using ZrCl₄ to simultaneously achieve the Cl doping and the surface modification with Zr species. The photocatalytic oxidation rate of styrene to benzaldehyde catalyzed by surface-modified CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆ nanosheets under visible light can reach 1,098 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, 2.9 times higher than that of pristine CsPbBr₃/Cs₄PbBr₆ nanosheets (372 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹). The enhanced photocatalytic performance may originate from the modified band structure induced by the synergistic effect of Cl doping and surface modification, whereby the same methodology can be applied to MAPbBr₃. This work demonstrates the surface modification of PVSK materials and their potential as efficient photocatalyst toward organic synthesis.