Fabrication of thermally stable PtSn/dealuminated zeolite for efficient ethane dehydrogenation

Non-oxidative dehydrogenation technology shows great potential for producing high-value ethylene from shale gas. While Pt-based catalysts are currently central to this technology, suppressing carbon deposition remains a major challenge. This study developed a method utilizing dealuminated H β zeolite to stabilize PtSn species, achieving high activity (conversion: 34.9%), selectivity (>98%), and exceptional stability (4 h) in ethane dehydrogenation. The results demonstrate that the abundant silanol nests generated through dealumination effectively disperse PtSn species and prevent the sintering and agglomeration of platinum nanoparticles at high temperatures. The introduction of Sn not only enhances metal-support interactions but also facilitates electron transfer to Pt, thereby improving both the activity and stability of the catalyst. These findings provide deeper insights into the mechanistic role of zeolite-supported PtSn catalysts and establish a solid foundation for their industrial application.