An Efficient Vanadia Supported SrTiO3 Nanocatalyst for the Selective Oxidation of Benzylalcohol to Benzaldehyde

Abstract In the present study, SrTiO 3 (STO) was synthesized using oxalate method. A series of V 2 O 5 nanoparticles supported on SrTiO 3 (V 2 O 5 / STO) with the vanadia content ranging from 0.5 to 2 wt. % was synthesized by wet impregnation method. Physicochemical properties of the synthesized catalysts were determined by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, N 2 physisorption and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and acidity by pyridine adsorption method. XPS studies of the catalysts reveal that vanadium is in +5 oxidation state. Particle size of the catalysts calculated from TEM image analysis was found to be in the range of 86–92 nm. Pyridine adsorption studies reveals presence of Lewis acidity in the catalysts and the number of Lewis acid sites increase with vanadium content of the catalysts. Their catalytic activity was evaluated for the liquid phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. STO is found to be least active and highly selective for the formation of benzaldehyde product where as V 2 O 5 /STO catalysts were found to be highly active and selective for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol reaction. Among all the catalysts the one with 1 wt. % loading of vanadia contains a greater number of active sites is found to be highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst system for selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol with 100 % benzaldehyde selectivity. The catalytic activity of the catalysts was correlated with the physico‐chemical properties of the catalysts.