CeO₂–TiO₂ Nanoparticle-Grafted gC₃N₄ Sheets as an Efficient Catalyst for the Oxidation of Cyclohexane to KA oil

Abstract

Here, we report a sustainable catalytic process operating on CeO2–TiO2 nanoparticle-grafted gC3N4 sheets (gC3N4/CeO2–TiO2) in the presence of a H2O2 green oxidant for the liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexane to produce KA oil (cyclohexanone + cyclohexanol). The process achieved enhanced cyclohexane conversion (62%) toward 95% KA oil (cyclohexanone 83% + cyclohexanol 12%), which is the highest ever reported to the best of our knowledge. The excellent catalytic behavior of gC3N4/CeO2–TiO2 in the present study due to its enhanced active sites, that is, Ce3+ and Ti3+, is facilitated by the redox reaction between CeO2–TiO2 and gC3N4 sheets. The high stability of gC3N4/CeO2–TiO2 catalyst in the liquid phase reaction study indicates the robust nature of this catalyst facilitated by strong interactions between CeO2–TiO2 species and electron-rich sites (N and π) of gC3N4 sheets. The overall study suggests that the gC3N4/CeO2–TiO2 material can be a promising catalyst for the sustainable production of KA oil from cyclohexane oxidation in the presence of the H2O2 oxidant.