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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
Efficient and durable light-alkane oxidation over sintered Pt catalysts
Xuan Tang1,2, Yang You1,2, Lei Ying3,4
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Nanoparticle sintering is typically regarded as a deactivation mechanism for supported metal catalysts, motivating efforts to maximize metal dispersion. Here we demonstrate the opposite trend for platinum catalysts in light-alkane oxidation. Intentionally pre-sintered platinum particles, tens of nanometers in size and supported on thermally stable magnesium aluminate, show higher activity than highly dispersed platinum species for propane oxidation. Theory-guided adsorption calculations suggest that oxygen-resistant metallic facets prevalent on large platinum particles mitigate oxygen poisoning, a concept validated by controlled calcination. The sintered catalyst delivers a turnover frequency of 0.1625 s-1 at 220 °C, 116-fold higher than platinum nanoclusters, and lowers the temperature for 90% propane conversion from 360 to 245 °C. It remains stable for 48 hours in dry and water-containing feeds and after hydrothermal aging. Mechanistic analyses reveal that low-index metallic facets sustain propane activation, while oxygen-rich feeds drive reconstruction toward less active stepped surfaces.
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