Process for forming a photocatalyst and oxidizing a cycloalkane

A process of forming a Pt/SrTiO3 photocatalyst and oxidizing a cycloalkane to a cycloalkanol and/or a cycloalkanone, the process comprising:

• reacting strontium acetate with acetic acid to form a precursor composition;
• adding titanium isopropoxide to the precursor composition and treating with ultrasound to form a second composition comprising strontium titanate nanoparticles;
• drying the second composition and calcining in air to form a powder;
• depositing platinum on the powder and reducing the platinum with hydrogen to form the Pt/SrTiO3 photocatalyst in the form of strontium titanate nanoparticles having surface doped Pt;
• wherein the platinum is present in an amount of 1.0-2.0 wt % relative to a total weight of the Pt/SrTiO photocatalyst;
• then
• contacting a feed mixture comprising the cycloalkane and an oxidant with the Pt/SrTiO3 photocatalyst thereby forming a reaction mixture;
• and
• concurrently irradiating the reaction mixture with light thereby forming the cycloalkanol and/or the cycloalkanon.