Cobalt in strontium titanate based perovskites: preparation, characterization and role in the photocatalytic propene partial oxidation

Strontium titanate perovskite (SrTiO3) and analogous materials in which Y partially substitutes Sr have been prepared as basis to integrate Co in the structure. The Co inserrtion has been performed by wet impregnation or coprecipitation methods. The obtained powders have been physico-chemically characterized and tested as photocatalysts in the propene partial oxidation by using a solar simulating reactor. Correlation between photocatalytic performance and physicochemical characteristics of the different catalysts allows to assess a key role of local nanostructuring of CoOx sites on the selectivity and distribution of products.