The selective oxidation of the hydroxyl group of alcohol molecules is an irreversible, exothermic reaction, thermodynamically favoured at any temperature. Since oxidation reactions are complex (consecutive and parallel) in nature, selectively oxidizing a functional group and/or partially oxidizing a substrate, i.e. controlling the reaction without leading to complete oxidation, requires highly selective catalysts with tailor-made properties. Primary alcohols can be selectively oxidized to aldehydes, but overoxidation can likely occur, leading to the formation of carboxylic acids; secondary alcohols can be oxidized to ketones, which are generally not further oxidized as ketone oxidation can only occur through C-C bond cleavage. Oxidations of alcohols are traditionally carried out in anaerobic conditions using oxidizing can be used in more sustainable processes by making use of earth abundant elements and by enabling milder conditions. Moreover, achieving good selectivities with higher alcohols is more challenging. This may require lower process temperatures and, in many cases, imply the need for a liquid phase. The presence of a liquid at the interface, which can interact with the reaction species, with the surface and with the adsorbed intermediates, greatly increases the complexity of the system. On top of that, in aerobic oxidation, the oxidant is gas, resulting in an intricate triphasic system.