Phosphorus-modification of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts improves dispersion and cycloalkane dehydrogenation activity

Ellert A, Herold F, Rønning M, Hutzler A, Piccirilli L, Janssens TV, Vennestrøm PN, Wasserscheid P, Schühle P (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 436

Article Number: 115607

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2024.115607

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrate that phosphorus-modification of Pt/Al2O3 leads to sinter-stable catalysts with improved activity in the dehydrogenation of perhydro benzyltoluene, an attractive liquid organic hydrogen carrier. TEM images show that platinum nanoparticles are stabilized to a size below 1 nm by the P-modification procedure, while unmodified counterparts show considerable sintering after reduction at 600 °C. The modification procedure starts by a simple impregnation of Pt/Al2O3 with H3PO3, followed by a high temperature treatment above 550 °C. It is crucial to adjust the right P:Pt ratio to reach stabilization of all platinum nanoparticles and thereby high catalytic surface areas. In our dehydrogenation studies, a catalyst with the optimal molar P:Pt ratio of 1.8 shows a 18 % higher activity compared to the unmodified sample. Even after treating the catalyst at temperatures up to 900 °C, this activity boost remains. XPS and XRD measurements prove that Pt stays in its reduced elemental state, also after P-modification, which is essential for a good dehydrogenation activity. The phosphorus species act as an anchor for the Pt particles on the Al2O3 surface, reducing their mobility and preserving small nanoparticles.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI-ERN) Germany (DE) NTNU Trondheim - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Norway (NO) Umicore Denmark ApS Denmark (DK)

How to cite

APA:

Ellert, A., Herold, F., Rønning, M., Hutzler, A., Piccirilli, L., Janssens, T.V.,... Schühle, P. (2024). Phosphorus-modification of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts improves dispersion and cycloalkane dehydrogenation activity. Journal of Catalysis, 436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2024.115607

MLA:

Ellert, Abelina, et al. "Phosphorus-modification of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts improves dispersion and cycloalkane dehydrogenation activity." Journal of Catalysis 436 (2024).

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