Propane Dehydrogenation to Propylene over Co@N-doped Carbon: Structure-activity-selectivity Relationships

The catalytic potential of carbon enriched with cobalt coordinated to nitrogen was explored for the propane dehydrogenation to propylene (PDH). The catalysts of a distinct structural diversity were synthesized by various techniques, which made it possible to define the specific role of metallic cobalt and cobalt oxide nanoparticles, as well as subnano-sized cobalt‑nitrogen sites in the PDH and side reactions under typical reaction conditions (600 °C, fixed bed flow reactor). The catalysts free from Co nanoparticles or having them tightly enveloped by graphite have shown the highest selectivity to propylene (>90%) and significant propane conversion (up to 29%).