Kinetics and Mechanisms of Photocatalyzed Total Oxidation Reaction of Hydrocarbon Species with Titanium Dioxide in the Gas Phase

Starting with the main characteristics of the photocatalyst titanium dioxide, a catalytic cycle passed during the total oxidation of alkanes and alkenes is proposed where the oxygen vacancies are actually the active sites at which the redistribution of electrons is easily possible. These sites are formed by the electron‐hole pairs generated by the adsorption of UV light. Based on the presented mechanism, a rate equation is derived, taking into account the main influences on the photocatalyzed reactions in question. This reaction kinetics differs from that for reactions facilitated by classical catalysts. Starting with the main characteristics of the photocatalyst titanium dioxide, a catalytic cycle passed during the total oxidation of alkanes and alkenes is proposed where the oxygen vacancies are actually the active sites at which the redistribution of electrons is easily possible. These sites are formed by the electron‐hole pairs generated by the adsorption of UV light. Based on the presented mechanism, a rate equation is derived, taking into account the main influences on the photocatalyzed reactions in question.