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Gas-phase surface modification to control catalyst structure and yields in methane dehydroaromatization

Journal Article · · Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)
  2. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States); University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) is a promising approach for direct methane transformation to aromatics and hydrogen. The benchmark catalyst Mo/H-ZSM-5 struggles to find commercial adoption because of thermodynamically-limited yields and rapid coking on Brønsted acid and molybdenum carbide species, especially on zeolite external surfaces. Here, gas-phase atomic layer deposition (ALD) overcoats H-ZSM-5 external surfaces with SiO2 or Al2O3. NH3-TPD, HRTEM, and textural properties show that these overcoats exclusively passivate zeolite external surfaces. Under MDA conditions, SiO2 gives softer coke and increases cumulative benzene yields by 25%, while Al2O3 strongly decreases yields. H2-TPR and UV-visible and Raman spectroscopy show how the overcoats redisperse the MoOx precatalysts, especially over multiple deactivation and isothermal oxidative regeneration cycles. Combined with 27Al-MAS NMR, MoOx redistribution and dealumination are seen as the causes of long-term deactivation over multiple regeneration cycles, and this process continues to occur regardless of the overcoat. Altogether, the deposition of a small amount of silica on the outer surface of Mo/H-ZSM-5 reduces the formation of hard coke, which could be regenerated by milder methods such as hydrogen treatment.

Research Organization:
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-03ER15457
OSTI ID:
2482303
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2377786
Journal Information:
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, Journal Name: Microporous and Mesoporous Materials Vol. 377; ISSN 1387-1811
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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