Photocatalytic Epoxidation of Olefins Using Molecular O2 by TiO2 Incorporated 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, $TiO_2$ 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. $TiO_2$ nanoparticles incorporated in hydrophobic Y zeolite exhibited a markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with bare $TiO_2$ 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 $TiO_2$ surface.