Non-catalytic Highly Selective Olefin Production from Complex Hydrocarbons via Pulsed Joule Heating

Selective catalytic conversion of complex hydrocarbons into light olefins remains challenging because of costly catalyst preparation and catalyst deactivation under severe cracking conditions. Here, we report pulsed Joule heating for highly selective light olefin production from complex hydrocarbon mixtures. By precisely regulating reaction severity, this catalyst-free approach achieves light olefin yields comparable to those reported for catalytic cracking. We systematically characterized the feedstock molecular composition and evaluated olefin yields of diverse hydrocarbon mixtures, including polyolefins, crude oils, Fischer-Tropsch wax, and shale oil. To quantify the effects of pulse parameters on olefin production, we developed a spatiotemporal reactor model based on a quasi-molecular reaction network. The model reveals that pulsed Joule heating regulates high-temperature reactions to match product removal, thereby improving olefin yield and selectivity. Guided by the model, catalyst-free pulsed Joule heating crude oil pyrolysis was optimized and achieved a light olefin yield of approximately 38 wt%. These findings establish a quantitative framework for temporal regulation of complex hydrocarbon pyrolysis and provide a basis for industrial electrified olefin production.