Selective partial oxidation of light alkanes over alkali-ion-modified silica-supported vanadium oxides excited with visible light

Alkali-ion (Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺)-modified V₂O₅/SiO₂ irradiated with visible light catalyzes the partial oxidation of 2-methylpropane to form mainly propanone and 2-methylpropan-2-ol. The addition of alkali ions to V₂O₅/SiO₂ is essential to generate the active site that can be excited with visible light. It is confirmed that there are two types of reaction paths for the formation of 2-methylpropan-2-ol.