In situ encapsulated subnanometric CoO clusters within silicalite‐1 zeolite for efficient propane dehydrogenation

Abstract Cobalt‐based catalysts are promising alternatives to replace Pt‐ and Cr‐based catalysts for propane dehydrogenation (PDH). However, the sintering and reduction of unstable Co sites cause fast deactivation. Herein, the ultrasmall cobalt oxide clusters encapsulated within silicalite‐1 zeolites (CoO@S‐1) has been obtained via a ligand assistance in situ crystallization method. This CoO@S‐1 catalyst exhibits an attractive propylene formation rate of 13.66 mmol C3H6 ·g cat −1 ·h −1 with selectivity of >92% and is durable during 120‐h PDH reaction with five successive regeneration cycles. The high PDH activity of CoO@S‐1 is assigned to the encapsulated CoO clusters are favorable for propane adsorption and can better stabilize the detached H* species from propane, leading to the lower dehydrogenation barriers than framework Co 2+ cations and Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles. Additionally, the π‐binding propylene on CoO clusters can prevent the over‐dehydrogenation reaction compared with the di‐σ binding propylene on metallic Co, leading to the superior propylene selectivity and catalytic stability.