Unraveling the function of monolayer shell structure over Pt-based alloy catalysts in tuning ethane dehydrogenation reactivity and coking resistance

Ethane direct dehydrogenation (EDH) operated at high temperature easily leads to coke formation. The new core–shell catalysts with monolayer shell exhibited better catalytic performance, and the function of monolayer shell structure is of great importance. This work fully investigated catalytic performance of EDH over six types of core–shell Pt3M@Pt and Pt@Pt3M (M = Fe, Co, and Ni) catalysts with Pt3M and Pt monolayer shell under the experimental conditions. Here, density functional theory (DFT) calculations with kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations were employed. The results show that the metal M over Pt3M@Pt surface decreases coordination number of Pt-Pt and restricts deep dehydrogenation reactions. The Pt3M@Pt catalysts with d-band center close to Fermi level exhibit higher C2H4(g) formation activity than Pt@Pt3M catalysts at 873.15 K. H2(g) co-feeding significantly decreases the coverage of coking C*+CC* species. The screened Pt3Ni@Pt catalyst presents the highest C2H4(g) formation activity and 100 % selectivity at the H2(g) partial pressure of 0.1 bar and reaction temperature 873.15 K, which is superior to previously reported Pt, Pt3Sn, 1Pt3Sn@4Pt, Pd1-NDG, Pt2/Al2O3 and Rh/ZrO2 catalysts. H* adsorption energy is proposed as a descriptor to quickly evaluate C2H4(g) formation activity. This work provides a useful strategy for designing alkane dehydrogenation catalysts by tuning monolayer shell structure and coordination environment of active site.