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Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts

Author

Listed:
  • Yongbin Yao

    (Beijing Jiaotong University
    Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory)

  • Jingnan Wang

    (Fuzhou University)

  • Fei Lu

    (Yangzhou University)

  • Wenlin Li

    (Taiyuan University of Technology)

  • Bingbao Mei

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lifeng Zhang

    (Fuzhou University)

  • Wensheng Yan

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Fangli Yuan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Guiyuan Jiang

    (China University of Petroleum)

  • Sanjaya D. Senanayake

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Xi Wang

    (Beijing Jiaotong University
    Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory)

Abstract

Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) is a promising route for propylene production, but achieving high selectivity towards propylene while minimizing COx byproducts remains a significant challenge for conventional metal oxide catalysts. Here we propose a solution to this challenge by employing atomically dispersed dual-atom catalysts (M1M'1-TiO2 DACs). Ni1Fe1-TiO2 DACs exhibit an ultralow COx selectivity of 5.2% at a high propane conversion of 46.1% and 520 °C, with stable performance for over 1000 hours. Mechanistic investigations reveal that these catalysts operate via a cooperative Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, distinct from the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism typical of metal oxides. This cooperative pathway facilitates efficient conversion of propane and oxygen into propylene at the dual-atom interface. The superior selectivity arises from facile olefin desorption from the dual-atom sites and suppressed formation of electrophilic oxygen species, which are preferentially adsorbed on Fe1 sites rather than oxygen vacancies. This work highlights the potential of dual-atom catalysts for highly selective ODHP and provides insights into their unique catalytic mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongbin Yao & Jingnan Wang & Fei Lu & Wenlin Li & Bingbao Mei & Lifeng Zhang & Wensheng Yan & Fangli Yuan & Guiyuan Jiang & Sanjaya D. Senanayake & Xi Wang, 2025. "Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59376-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59376-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yufan Liang & Xiaheng Zhang & David W. C. MacMillan, 2018. "Decarboxylative sp3 C–N coupling via dual copper and photoredox catalysis," Nature, Nature, vol. 559(7712), pages 83-88, July.
    2. Insoo Ro & Ji Qi & Seungyeon Lee & Mingjie Xu & Xingxu Yan & Zhenhua Xie & Gregory Zakem & Austin Morales & Jingguang G. Chen & Xiaoqing Pan & Dionisios G. Vlachos & Stavros Caratzoulas & Phillip Chri, 2022. "Bifunctional hydroformylation on heterogeneous Rh-WOx pair site catalysts," Nature, Nature, vol. 609(7926), pages 287-292, September.
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