Calcium‐induced Electronic Effect to Promote Propane Dehydrogenation Over PtCu‐Ca/MSN Catalysts

Abstract The dehydrogenation of propane to propylene is an important process, with great significance for meeting the growing market demand for propylene. Platinum (Pt) ‐based catalysts exhibit excellent activity in the propane dehydrogenation (PDH) reaction, owing to their high affinity for C─H bonds, but suffer from problems such as easy coke deposition and deactivation. Herein, PtCu‐xCa/MSN catalysts were prepared by using Ca‐modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ca/MSN) as support. The experimental results showed that the addition of Ca acts as an electronic promoter, providing electrons to Pt and enhancing its electron density, promotes the migration of coke deposition from active sites to the support, significantly enhancing the activity and stability of the catalyst. Among the synthesized catalysts, the PtCu‐0.5Ca/MSN catalyst exhibited the highest performance, with initial propane conversion and propylene selectivity reaching 56.1% and 96.1%, respectively, along with the lowest deactivation rate constant (0.03 h −1 ).