Active catalysts prepared using a vanadium-containing oligosilsesquioxane for selective photo-assisted oxidation of methane into methanal

Catalysts of characteristic pore structure derived from silica-supported vanadium-containing silsesquioxane show excellent activity towards the selective photo-assisted catalytic oxidation of methane into methanal (at 493 K, 139 µmol h–1, TON ca. 9 h–1, selectivity 81%), indicating its potent abilities as an excellent precursor for porous oxide catalysts.