Doubly Decorated Platinum–Gallium Intermetallics as Stable Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is a promising chemical process that can satisfy the increasing global demand for propylene. However, the Pt-based catalysts that have been reported thus far are typically deactivated at ≥600 °C by side reactions and coke formation. Thus, such catalysts possess an insufficient life. Herein, we report a novel catalyst design concept, namely, the double decoration of PtGa intermetallics by Pb and Ca, which synergize the geometric and electronic promotion effects on the catalyst stability, respectively. Pb is deposited on the three-fold Pt₃ sites of the PtGa nanoparticles to block them, whereas Ca, which affords an electron-enriched single-atom-like Pt₁ site, is placed around the nanoparticles. Thus, PtGa-Ca-Pb/SiO₂ exhibits an outstandingly high catalytic stability, even at 600 °C (kd =0.00033 h⁻¹ , τ=3067 h), and almost no deactivation of the catalyst was observed for up to 1 month for the first time.