Studies
of stable catalysts for non-oxidative dehydrogenation of
ethane (NDE) have been challenged by coke deposition from side reactions
and thermal sintering of active species. Herein, we report a catalyst
mechanism that overcomes both challenges to enable highly stable,
active, and selective NDE. The catalyst is made of subnanometric platinum
(Pt) species (i.e., single atoms and clusters) habituated on a two-dimensional
(2D) multilamellar titanium silicalite-1 (M-TS-1) zeolite nanosheet
support (i.e., Pt/M-TS-1). The ultrathin (∼3 nm) M-TS-1 nanosheets
provide high external surface areas, high terminal silanol/titanol
(−OH) groups, and weak Lewis acid sites. The first two characteristics
enhance molecular transport and Pt dispersion in the catalyst support.
The third characteristic prohibits side reactions to avoid coking
and create strong Pt–support interaction, leading to well-dispersed
Pt species against thermal sintering. The M-TS-1 nanosheet-supported
Pt catalyst exhibited durable catalytic activity and high ethylene
selectivity in the NDE.
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