Improved C–H Activation in Propane Dehydrogenation Using Zeolite-Stabilized Co–O Moieties

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) presents a promising alternative to naphtha steam cracking processes for propene production. However, the current commercial catalysts are plagued by the toxicity of Cr (VI) and the exorbitant cost of Pt. We have developed an efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective catalyst (CoOx@MFI) in which reduction-resistant CoOx clusters are embedded in situ into the zeolite framework. This catalyst exhibits good catalytic performances (59.0% propane conversion and 93.0% propene selectivity) in PDH reactions, surpassing most Co-based catalysts and competing with Pt-based ones. Crucially, both in situ spectroscopy and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the MFI zeolite-stabilized Co–O moieties are highly favorable for C–H bond activation via an O atom as a Lewis base, which can attach to an H atom and generate [CoOH]+ intermediate with remarkable efficiency.