Photocatalytic ethylene production by oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane with dioxygen on ZnO-supported PdZn intermetallic nanoparticles
Pu Wang, Xingyu Zhang, Run Shi, Jiaqi Zhao, Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse, Junwang Tang, Tierui Zhang
Abstract
Abstract The selective oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) is attracting increasing attention as a method for ethylene production. Typically, thermocatalysts operating at high temperatures are needed for C–H activation in ethane. In this study, we describe a low temperature ( < 140 °C) photocatalytic route for ODHE, using O 2 as the oxidant. A photocatalyst containing PdZn intermetallic nanoparticles supported on ZnO is prepared, affording an ethylene production rate of 46.4 mmol g –1 h –1 with 92.6% ethylene selectivity under 365 nm irradiation. When we employ a simulated shale gas feed, the photocatalytic ODHE system achieves nearly 20% ethane conversion while maintaining an ethylene selectivity of about 87%. The robust interface between the PdZn intermetallic nanoparticles and ZnO support plays a crucial role in ethane activation through a photo-assisted Mars-van Krevelen mechanism, followed by a rapid lattice oxygen replenishment to complete the reaction cycle. Our findings demonstrate that photocatalytic ODHE is a promising method for alkane-to-alkene conversions under mild conditions.