LAUSR

Abstract The influences of support (SiO2 versus Al2O3), synthesis method (impregnation versus colloidal synthesis) and Sn loading on the performance of Sn-promoted Pt nanoparticles for propane dehydrogenation to propene at 773 K were explored. Catalysts were characterized extensively by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction/oxidation, chemisorption, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and DRIFTS of adsorbed CO. Catalyst stability and selectivity to propene were correlated with extent of Pt-Sn interactions within the nanoparticles, which was favored at high Sn loading, and when the particles were supported on a weakly interacting carrier such as silica. However, oxidative regeneration irreversibly deactivated bimetallic nanoparticles on silica relative to those on alumina. The extended performance of Sn-promoted Pt catalysts is an optimization of the Pt-Sn interactions with the ability to oxidatively redisperse the metals during regeneration.