Ag sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40)/C sub(3)N sub(4) nanocomposites as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrocarbon selective oxidation

Ag sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40)/C sub(3)N sub(4) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by loading Ag sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40 ) into C sub(3)N sub(4), in which case Ag sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40 ) is gained through reaction between AgNO sub(3) and H sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40) at room temperature. The obtained nanocomposites show efficient and light-operated catalytic activity for hydrocarbon selective oxidation (selective oxidation of cyclooctene and cyclohexane) without adding any oxidant at 60 degree C. For cyclooctene, the conversion based on cyclooctene is 41.26%, and the selectivity of selective oxidation to epoxycyclooctane can be up to 77.2%. The nanocomposite catalyst yielded oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone with 8.62% efficiency and >99.0% selectivity. In the catalytic system, the oxidant (H sub(2)O sub(2)) in the catalysis process can be produced by the irradiation of C sub(3)N sub(4) and then decomposed into HO. with the help of Ag sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40 ). The observed improvement in the activities of photo-induced oxidation of cyclooctene and cyclohexane is mainly attributed to the high BET surface area of C sub(3)N sub(4). With the synergistic effect of Ag sub(3)PW sub(12)O sub(40 ) and C sub(3)N sub(4), the nanocomposite displays considerable catalytic activity, which sheds light on the catalyst design applied in the selective oxidation of hydrocarbon.