Photo-oxidation of ethanol on mesoporous vanadium–titanium oxide catalysts and the relation to vanadium(IV) and (V) sites

Ethanol photo-oxidation was investigated over mesoporous, amorphous V + TiO2 and V + TiO2(anatase) catalysts. Under the UV + visible light, mesoporous V + TiO2 generally exhibited faster photo-oxidation rates than V + TiO2(anatase) catalysts did. VIV doping directed preferable formation of acetic acid rather than predominant acetaldehyde formation. Under the visible light only, mesoporous VIV–TiO2 catalyst exhibited best reactivity among all V + TiO2 catalysts. Ethanol dehydration reaction was preferred. Initial quicker water evolution may suggest greater oxidation capability compared to V + TiO2(anatase) catalysts.