Photocatalytic Epoxidation of Olefins Using Molecular O2by TiO2Incorporated in Hydrophobic Y Zeolite

Zeolite is an ideal host material for encapsulating nano-size metal catalyst species because of its defined microporous structure, prominent adsorption/condensation properties, high surface area, chemical/thermal stability, and transparency to light. In this study, TiO₂ photocatalyst was incorporated in highly hydrophobic Y zeolite and its photocatalytic activity was examined in the photocatalytic oxidation of olefins under UV-light irradiation using molecular oxygen as an oxygen source. TiO₂ nanoparticles incorporated in hydrophobic Y zeolite exhibited a markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with bare TiO₂ owing to its excellent affinity toward organic moieties, which facilitates the mass transfer of organic substrates and allows them to efficiently access to the neighboring active TiO₂ surface.