Pt–Sn nanoalloys on Sn-Beta zeolite for efficient propane dehydrogenation

Zeolite-tailored bimetallic Pt-Sn catalysts have been shown to be effective for propane dehydrogenation (PDH). Here, we have successfully prepared and compared two Sn-Beta-supported bimetallic PtSn catalysts (Pt/Sn-Beta (DG) and Pt/Sn-Beta (DA)), in which the Sn-Beta zeolite was prepared by a dry-gel (DG) synthesis method involving in situ Sn incorporation or a post-synthesis method involving dealumination and Sn incorporation (DA), respectively. The as-prepared Pt/Sn-Beta (DG), possessing a less fraction of extra-framework Sn species comparing to Pt/Sn-Beta (DA), shows a superior performance in terms of activity (TOF, 1.8 s-1), selectivity (99.0%) and stability (7360 min) at 550 °C using 40 kPa propane and 60 kPa nitrogen gas, reflecting one of the highest PDH performances for bimetallic Pt-Sn catalysts under similar conditions. By a combination of the state-of-the-art electron microscopy-based techniques and advanced spectroscopy techniques, we found that the proper Pt-Sn nano-alloying in Pt/Sn-Beta (DG), rather than Sn coverage on Pt species in Pt/Sn-Beta (DA) owing to the migration of excess extraframework Sn species, is essential for providing an enhanced PDH performance, as the active Pt species could be well isolated, accessed and stablized in Pt/Sn-Beta (DG) by alloying.