Calcium‐Modified PtSn/Al2O3 Catalyst for Propane Dehydrogenation with High Activity and Stability

Catalytic dehydrogenation of propane to propylene and by‐product hydrogen is an atom‐economical and environmentally friendly route. PtSn/Al2O3 catalysts have been industrialized in this process, but still suffer from platinum sintering and coke deposition under reaction conditions. Herein, we design a calcium‐modified PtSn/Al2O3 catalyst showing a superior propane dehydrogenation performance. The presence of calcium combined with unsaturated aluminum and tin could consist of a new local microenvironment that promotes the dispersion of the platinum species and increases the electron density of the platinum species, which improves the catalytic activity, facilitates propylene desorption and inhibits coke formation. As a result, the achieved PtSnCa/Al2O3 catalyst exhibits a higher propylene formation rate and a lower coke‐accumulation rate compared to the catalyst without Ca addition. Moreover, the size of active phase clusters (∼1 nm) remained almost unchanged after the catalytic test, indicating a superior sintering resistance. The designed PtSnCa/Al2O3 catalyst with superior propane dehydrogenation performance benefited from the regulation of the platinum active phase microenvironment that consists of unsaturated aluminum, tin, and calcium cations, which promotes the dispersion of the platinum species and increases the electron density of the platinum species.