Au/SiOx composite thin film as catalyst for solvent-free hydrocarbon oxidation

Graphical abstract: Au/SiOx composite thin film possesses high catalytic activity and stability for selective oxidation of cis-cyclooctene. - Highlights: • Au/SiOx composite thin film was synthesized by a facile and efficient chemical approach. • The Au/SiOx composite thin film exhibits high catalytic ability for the selective oxidation. • The Au/SiOx composite thin film possesses high structural and catalytic stability. - Abstract: We report a facile and efficient chemical approach for the controllable preparation of Au/SiOx composite thin film using silicon quantum dots as SiOx sources. Au/SiOx composite thin film exhibits high catalytic activity (65.04% conversion based on cis-cyclooctene and 78.34% selectivity for 2-hydroxycyclooctanone) and stability for selective oxidation of cis-cyclooctene in the absence of solvent using TBHP as radical initiator and oxygen (in the air) as oxidant at 80 °C