Design of PtZn nanoalloy catalysts for propane dehydrogenation through interface tailoring via atomic layer deposition

• Published in: Catalysis science & technology Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 484 - 493
• Main Authors: Ingale, Piyush, Knemeyer, Kristian, Preikschas, Phil, Ye, Mengyang, Geske, Michael, Naumann d'Alnoncourt, Raoul, Thomas, Arne, Rosowski, Frank
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Atomic layer epitaxy; Bimetals; Catalysts; Dehydrogenation; Heat treatment; Nanoalloys; Nanoparticles; Phase transitions; Platinum; Propane; Selectivity; Silicon dioxide; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 2044-4753; 2044-4761
• DOI: 10.1039/D0CY01528H

Supported Pt nanoparticles are widely used for the catalytic dehydrogenation of propane to propene. Monometallic Pt catalysts are subject to fast deactivation. A successful strategy for stabilization is alloying Pt with a second metal. In this study, we present a novel approach for the precise formation of bimetallic nanoparticles via tailoring of the interface between metal nanoparticles and the support. An ultra-thin functional layer of ZnO is deposited via atomic layer deposition on SiO 2 . The supported Pt nanoparticles undergo a phase transformation and form Pt 1 Zn 1 alloy nanoparticles under reductive thermal treatment. The resulting Pt 1 Zn 1 catalyst showed a high and stable selectivity to propene over 12 hours of time on stream. The activity of the Pt 1 Zn 1 catalyst was 1.5 times higher than that of a catalyst of the same composition prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The nanoalloy formation causes electronic and geometric modification of Pt which reduces side reactions and leads to a stable and active propane dehydrogenation catalyst.