Propane Dehydrogenation over Electron-Deficient CoO x Clusters Anchored by Framework Mn in S-1 Zeolite

The development of efficient catalysts is crucial for enabling effective C–H bond activation for propane dehydrogenation (PDH). Further enhancement of the catalytic activity remains necessary for Co-based catalysts, with the key challenge being the precise construction of the active sites. Here, we construct a Co/Mn-S-1 catalyst with highly dispersed CoO x clusters and reveal the key role of framework Mn on the formation of the active sites. Quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and other characterizations elucidate that the framework Mn promotes the dispersion of CoO x clusters and facilitates the formation of the electron-deficient Co 2+ active sites through a Co 2+ –O–Mn structure. Consequently, the optimized Co/Mn-S-1 catalyst exhibits a high C 3 H 6 formation rate of 131.5 mmol g cat –1 h –1 and a high selectivity of >98%, compared to those of noble metal-based catalysts. The C 3 H 6 formation rate is approximately fivefold higher than that of the Co/S-1 catalyst without Mn anchoring. This work highlights the anchoring effect of Mn in S-1 for designing highly efficient non-noble metal catalysts in propane dehydrogenation.