Lattice-Confined Sn (IV/II) Stabilizing Raft-Like Pt Clusters: High Selectivity and Durability in Propane Dehydrogenation

Catalytic dehydrogenation of propane (DHP) to propene is highly endothermic, requiring a high reaction temperature. Under harsh conditions, it has been a great challenge to maintain excellent propene selectivity and suppress the irreversible deactivation caused by sintering of metallic active centers. This work reports a highly selective and durable Pt-Sn catalyst for DHP, in which metallic Pt centers are dispersed homogeneously in small raft-like clusters on Mg(Sn)(Al)O and form strong interactions with the Sn-IV/II sites confined in Mg(Al)0 lattices. A propene selectivity of >99% at 550 degrees C with a conversion close to the equilibrium (specific rate of 0.96 s(-1) for propene formation) and a propene selectivity of >98% (specific rate of 1.46 s(-1)) even under 600 degrees C have been produced by highly dispersed Pt sites in Pt/Mg(Sn)(Al)O. The Pt Sn interactions and Sn-IV/II confinement were revealed to afford the catalyst with good durability. No visible sintering of Pt clusters was observed in the long-term DHP reaction.