Photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexane on ultra-fine TiO₂ particles

Abstract

Photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexane has been investigated on nanometer size TiO₂ particles under mild condition. Photocatalytic activity increases with decrease in particle size and depends on the type and the microstructure of crystallites. The selectivity of the product (cyclohexanol) is very high (≥85%). The results suggest that a size quantization effect is operating and reduction of size might result in some electronic modification of TiO₂ to produce an enhancement of the activities of electrons and holes.