Catalysts for Alkane Dehydrogenation and Methane Conversion
This research community develops catalysts to convert simple hydrocarbons like propane and methane into higher-value chemicals, such as propylene, ethylene, and methanol.
The work centers on two primary reactions: the dehydrogenation of propane and ethane to produce light olefins, and the selective oxidation or coupling of methane to create methanol, ethanol, or acetic acid. Recurring materials include zeolites (specifically ZSM-5 and Beta), mesoporous silica, and oxide catalysts containing vanadium, titanium, or molybdenum. Researchers focus on engineering active sites, managing oxygen vacancies, and improving selectivity to prevent over-oxidation. Methods involve single-atom anchoring, dual-atom sites, and photocatalytic or electrocatalytic activation to lower energy barriers and enhance stability.
The community is most heavily represented in research tracked for vanadium, where it accounts for 2.7% of all vanadium studies, and molybdenum, at 1.0%. It also contributes 5,140 papers to hydrogen research, representing 0.9% of that element's tracked literature.
The community comprises 25,905 papers, published primarily in the Journal of Catalysis, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, and Catalysis Today.
Recent work continues to focus on enhancing selectivity in methane oxidation to liquid oxygenates and developing durable catalysts for propane dehydrogenation, with recent studies exploring photocatalytic pathways and single-atom metal sites.