Development of highly selective organic synthesis systems based on visible light responsive WO3 photocatalysts

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26620144
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Green/Environmental chemistry
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: ABE Ryu 京都大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (60356376)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 光触媒 / ベンゼン水酸化 / 可視光 / 酸化タングステン / 流通系 / アルコール部分酸化 / 水の酸化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research program, we revealed that Particles of WO3 loaded with appropriate cocatalyst such as Pt can produce phenol from benzene with high selectivity in water containing molecular O2; the selectivity for phenol were much higher than those on conventional TiO2 photocatalysts that generated CO2 as a main product. The reactions using 18O-labeled O2 and H2O clearly and firstly revealed that the holes generated on Pt/WO3 react primarily with H2O molecules, even in the presence of benzene in aqueous solution, selectively generating OH radicals that subsequently react with benzene to produce phenol. In contrast, a portion of holes generated on TiO2 photocatalysts reacts directly with benzene molecules. This direct oxidation of substances by holes undoubtedly enhanced non-selective oxidation, consequently lowing selectivity for phenol by TiO2. The WO3 photocatalysts also exhibited high selectivity for partial oxidation of various alcohols to aldehydes or ketones in aqueous solution.

Free Research Field

光触媒