Time-resolved IR observation of a photocatalytic reaction of pivalic acid on platinized titanium dioxide

► Photocatalytic degradation of pivalic acids on Pt/TiO2 were studied by TRIR. ► A vibrational band of t-butyl radical, a key intermediate, was detected. ► The main photoproduct was isobutane, not isobutene as on the (1 1 0) surface of rutile. ► Kinetics was analyzed on the basis of reactant, intermediate, and product band intensities. ► New photocatalytic reaction pathways for isobutane production were proposed.