AuNP@TiO2Catalyzed Peroxidation of Ethyl- andn-Propylbenzene: Exploring the Interaction Between Radical Species and the Nanoparticle Surface

Ethyl- and n- propylbenzene peroxidation has been studied in the presence of supported gold nanoparticles on TiO2(AuNP@TiO2). The decomposition products obtained from Fenton-induced cumene hydroperoxide decomposition, as well as the oxidation products of ethyl- and n- propylbenzene, implicate the participation of reactive oxygen species adsorbed on the AuNP surface. This surface intermediate is believed to be a fundamental participant in hydrogen abstraction reactions required to facilitate the formation of the observed carbonyl derived product.