Effect of dissolved oxygen and lanthanide ions in solution on TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation of 2-propanol

The photocatalytic degradation of 2-propanol in D₂O solution under UV irradiation was investigated. The conversion yield from 2-propanol to acetone was studied by ¹H-NMR measurements. The study was carried out to elucidate effects of O₂ in the reaction medium and lanthanide ion modification on the TiO₂ surface. Under aerobic conditions, acetone formation was clearly increased in comparison with anaerobic conditions. On the modification of TiO₂ with lanthanide ion, the conversion yield decreased with the increase in the ionic radius. Yb³⁺ ion modification increased the acetone formation by approx. 5% in comparison with the unmodified case. Appreciably large effects of the counter ion in lanthanide salts were also observed. The role of OH^˙ radical formation in the first step of photocatalysis was emphasized in the experimental results.