Abstract

Cr/Ti/Si ternary mixed oxides (CrTiSi) were prepared by a hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), Cr(NO3)3, and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) followed by calcination. These oxides were used as catalysts for partial oxidation of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen under irradiation of visible light (λ > 400 nm). The CrTiSi catalysts produce cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone with high selectivity (>91%) and show much higher activity than the CrSi binary oxides. Among them, the catalyst with equimolar amounts of Cr and Ti shows the highest activity. Visible-light irradiation of the CrSi catalyst promotes a reduction of tetrahedrally coordinated Cr oxide species (Td6+) and produces the excited state (Td4+*), which behaves as an active site for oxidation. In contrast, the CrTiSi catalyst contains tetrahedrally coordinated Cr and Ti oxide species that are connected through the Cr–O–Ti bond. The photoformed Td4+* species is strongly stabilized due to delocalization of excited electrons on the Cr–O–Ti species. This suppresses rapid deactivation of Td4+* and results in enhanced photocatalytic activity.

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