Catalysts and related methods for photocatalytic production of H2O2 and thermocatalytic reactant oxidation

A method for concomitant H2O2 production and reaction using a catalyst composition comprising:

• a particulate TiO2 core component, the particulate TiO2 core component having a surface;
• a SiO2 shell component coupled to and partially coating the surface of the particulate TiO2 core component;
• and
• transition metal moieties coupled to the SiO2 shell component, wherein TiO2 surface areas of the particulate TiO2 core component are exposed through the SiO2 shell component, the method comprising:
• exposing the catalyst composition to a reaction medium comprising O2, a proton donor, and an alkene;
• and
• irradiating the reaction medium with ultra-violet light to induce the photocatalytic oxidation of the proton donor and the formation of H2O2, whereby the H2O2 and the alkene undergo an oxidation reaction to form an oxidation product, wherein the oxidation of the proton donor and the oxidation reaction are both catalyzed by the catalyst composition.