METHANE LIQUEFACTION: Selective Conversion of Methane to Cyclohexane via Efficient Surface-Hydrogen-Transfer Catalyzed by GaN-Supported Platinum Clusters

Non-oxidative liquefaction of methane at room temperature and ambient pressure has long been a scientific “holy grail” of chemical research. In this report, we exploit an unprecedented catalytic transformation of methane exclusively to cyclohexane through effective surface-hydrogen-transfer (SHT) at the heterojunctions boundary consisting of electron-rich platinum cluster (Pt) loaded on methane-activating gallium nitride (GaN) host. The experimental analysis demonstrates that interface-induced overall reaction starts with methane aromatization to benzene initiated by the Ga-N pairs, followed by hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane via hydrogen transfer. The in-situ activated hydrogen at electron-rich metal Pt cluster plays a key role for the hydrogenation and enables an outstanding selectivity (as high as 89 %) towards cyclohexane, which is well-delivered even after 5 recycling runs.

Theoretical characterization of zeolite encapsulated platinum clusters in the presence of water molecules

From the DFT calculations, we found the MFI-type zeolite encapsulated Pt metal clusters shows superior stability. The presence of water molecules enhances the interaction between the zeolite framework and the metal clusters, making the configuration more stable.

Transformation of Atomically Dispersed Platinum in SAPO-37 into Platinum Clusters: Catalyst for Ethylene Hydrogenation

Atomically dispersed supported platinum catalysts were synthesized by the reaction of Pt(acac)2 (acac = acetylacetonato) with the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve SAPO-37, with infrared spectra showing that the reaction involved SAPO...