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

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...

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Main Authors: Yongbin Yao, Jingnan Wang, Fei Lu, Wenlin Li, Bingbao Mei, Lifeng Zhang, Wensheng Yan, Fangli Yuan, Guiyuan Jiang, Sanjaya D. Senanayake, Xi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59376-z
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author Yongbin Yao
Jingnan Wang
Fei Lu
Wenlin Li
Bingbao Mei
Lifeng Zhang
Wensheng Yan
Fangli Yuan
Guiyuan Jiang
Sanjaya D. Senanayake
Xi Wang
author_facet Yongbin Yao
Jingnan Wang
Fei Lu
Wenlin Li
Bingbao Mei
Lifeng Zhang
Wensheng Yan
Fangli Yuan
Guiyuan Jiang
Sanjaya D. Senanayake
Xi Wang
author_sort Yongbin Yao
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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issn 2041-1723
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spelling doaj-art-2e5cc0a03ede4aacab55c587add53fd42025-08-20T03:08:43ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-59376-zSuppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalystsYongbin Yao0Jingnan Wang1Fei Lu2Wenlin Li3Bingbao Mei4Lifeng Zhang5Wensheng Yan6Fangli Yuan7Guiyuan Jiang8Sanjaya D. Senanayake9Xi Wang10Key Laboratory of Luminescence and Optical Information, Ministry of Education, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong UniversityInstitute of Molecular Engineering Plus, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou UniversityCollege of Physical Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization, Taiyuan University of TechnologyShanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Molecular Engineering Plus, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou UniversityNational Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of PetroleumChemistry Division, Brookhaven National LaboratoryKey Laboratory of Luminescence and Optical Information, Ministry of Education, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59376-z
spellingShingle Yongbin Yao
Jingnan Wang
Fei Lu
Wenlin Li
Bingbao Mei
Lifeng Zhang
Wensheng Yan
Fangli Yuan
Guiyuan Jiang
Sanjaya D. Senanayake
Xi Wang
Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts
Nature Communications
title Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts
title_full Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts
title_fullStr Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts
title_full_unstemmed Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts
title_short Suppressing COx in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual-atom catalysts
title_sort suppressing cox in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with dual atom catalysts
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59376-z
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