Photocatalysis reaction for synthesizing methacrolein from propane and CO2 over Cu/MoO3-TiO2/SiO2 catalyst

Solid material of metal-decorated coupled semiconductors Cu/MoO3-TiO2/SiO2, prepared by the chemical modification method and the isovolumetric impregnation method, was introduced into photo-promoted surface reaction(PPSR) process to synthesize methacrolein from propane and carbon dioxide. BET, XRD, TEM, IR, Raman and UV-Vis DRS experiments were used to characterize the surface structure, photon aborbing and chemisorbing ability of the material. It was shown that the semiconductors TiO2 and V2O5, dispersed well on the surface of the catalyst Cu/MiO(3)-TiO2/SiO2, can be coupled each other by the chemical bonds and form manifold active chemisorbed sites. The decoration of metal Cu is helpful to expend the light-responding scope of the material, which can also improve the photo absorbing ability of the whole reaction. The active chemisorbing of CO, and propane on the catalyst greatly promotes the photochemical synthesis of methacrolein and the selectivity of methacrolein can reach 85% even at the lower temperature. On the basis of the experiments. the mechanism of photo-promoted surface reaction for synthesizing methacrolein from C, H, and CO2 on Cu/MoO3-TiO2/SiO2 was discussed.