Embedding isolated Fe species in titania increases olefins for oxidative propane dehydrogenation

Abstract

AbstractMetal oxide‐based catalysts are widely studied in oxidative propane dehydrogenation (OPDH), but they usually suffered from the low olefin activity, which is believed to be related to the active centers of metal‐oxygen species. Herein, we report an effective cation‐exchange strategy towards the development of TiO2nanosheets embedded isolated Fe species (Fe1TiO2) as a highly‐active and stable catalyst for OPDH. It exhibits an olefin yield of 38.2% at 520°C, 10.9 and 2.4 times higher than that of pure TiO2(3.5%) and Fe2O3(15.6%), respectively; and it shows a superior 100‐h durability. The isolated Fe species embedded in Fe1TiO2are demonstrated to serve as active centers. Multiple characterizations includingin situFourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the isolated Fe species in Fe1TiO2are favorable for the generation of olefins, which produce propylene (C3) through an appropriate FeH dehydrogenation pathway with a low energy barrier.