Highly selective epoxidation of styrene over mesoporous Au-Ti-SBA-15 via photocatalysis process: Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic application

► The bifunctional catalyst of Au-Ti-SBA-15 was synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. ► Au-Ti-SBA-15 exhibited excellent photocatalytic properties in styrene epoxidation reaction. ► Highly efficient epoxidation was carried out perfectly for 10 min with high TOF of 4.75 × 103 min−1. ► The catalysts can be separated and reused for several times without significant loss in catalytic activity.