Tuning Nanoparticle Alloys to Enhance C-H Bond Activation for the Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Ethane

摘要

Supported Pt catalysts are widely used in a number of industrial hydrocarbon processes, including hydrogenation, isomerization, naphtha reforming, and dehydrogenation reactions, due to their affinity for paraffinic C-H bonds [1]. While structure insensitive reactions, such as alkane dehydrogenation, can occur on isolated metal sites, larger nanoparticle ensembles are known to catalyze side reactions, such as cracking and hydrogenolysis [2]. Recent work by Childers et al. [3] has demonstrated that Zn addition to SiO2-supported Pt catalysts enhances propylene selectivity during propane dehydrogenation by forming an intermetallic alloy that effectively isolates Pd surface sites via a geometric effect.