An efficient oxidation of cyclohexane over Au@TiO2/MCM-41 catalyst prepared by photocatalytic reduction method using molecular oxygen as oxidant

•Gold nanoparticle Au@TiO2/MCM-41 was prepared by photocatalytic reduction method.•The newly-developed catalyst achieved a TOF of 29,145 h− 1 for cyclohexane oxidation.•Recycling tests show that the catalyst has a high stability.•Pd, Pt nanoparticle catalysts could be prepared by photocatalytic reduction method.

Cyclohexane oxidation using molecular oxygen as oxidant is one of the most challenge subjects. A novel photocatalytic reduction method to prepare Gold nanoparticles Au@TiO2/MCM-41 was proposed. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption isotherm, FT-IR, TEM and EDS. The results showed that gold nanoparticles were well-dispersed on TiO2/MCM-41, and TiO2 was dispersed on the surface of the support and the gold existed as Au0. Newly-developed catalyst was promising for the cyclohexane oxidation, achieving a turnover frequency (TOF) as high as 29,145 h− 1 with 9.87% conversion of cyclohexane.

Graphical abstractSupported gold nanoparticle catalysts Au@TiO2/MCM-41 were prepared in photocatalytic reduction method.Figure representative TEM images of Au@TiO2/MCM-41(0.1 wt.% Au).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide