Work

Ethane Dehydrogenation over Nanostructured Ga‐Ce Bimetallic Oxide Catalysts Using N2O as Oxidant

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In this work, a series of nanostructured gallium‐cerium bimetallic oxide catalysts with different molar ratios are prepared as fibers and aerogels. Their catalytic behavior is evaluated for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane aiming the production of ethylene. N2O is chosen as an oxidant and the catalysts activity and selectivity toward ethylene are correlated with their morphology, crystallite size, reducibility, and acid‐base properties. The best results are obtained over the fibers and, in general, the catalysts with the lowest Ga‐Ce molar ratio show the highest ethylene selectivity. Their good catalytic performance and the differences observed between aerogels and fibers are attributed to the synergistic interactions established during the incorporation of Ga3+ cations into the crystalline structure of ceria, either by simple insertion into its interstices (aerogels) or by Ce4+ substitution (fibers). Furthermore, the activity of the catalysts increases with increasing basicity and decreasing crystallite size, but the increase in selectivity toward ethylene correlates better with the decrease in reducibility of the catalysts. To the best of one's knowledge, the obtained results are comparable to the best reported in the literature using N2O or CO2 as an oxidant, confirming the potential of gallium‐cerium bimetallic oxides as catalysts for this reaction.

Source: European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry

DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202500004

Authors: Joaquim B. Branco, Pedro A. L. Martins, Ana C. Ferreira, Joana F. Martinho

Institutions: University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Centro de Química Estrutural

Language: English

Topic: Catalysis and Oxidation Reactions

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia