A Smart Design of Non‐Noble Catalysts for Sustainable Propane Dehydrogenation

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH), an important process for propylene synthesis, relies on expensive noble metals or highly toxic oxides as catalysts. In a recent publication, Gong and co‐workers report a breakthrough discovery for PDH by introducing a sustainable catalyst composed of titanium oxide overlayers encapsulating nickel nanoparticles, termed Ni@TiOx. This innovative catalyst showcases exceptional performance in PDH, exhibiting high propylene selectivity and stability under industrially relevant conditions. The study elucidates the role of defective TiOx overlayers and the electronic promotional effect of subsurface Ni in enhancing catalytic activity, translating a traditional model catalyst system into a sustainable industrial catalyst for low‐carbon energy and the chemical industry. This paper highlights a smart sustainable Ni@TiOx catalyst, Ni encapsulated in TiOx, for propane dehydrogenation (PDH), as reported by Gong and co‐workers. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional performance in PDH, achieving 94 % propylene selectivity and high stability. This design offers a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional noble metal‐based catalysts, with potential for broader industrial applications.