Facile synthesis of SiO2 supported GaN as an active catalyst for CO2 enhanced dehydrogenation of propane

Abstract GaN/Q-x catalysts (Q-x: SiO2 support with varying pore size) were successfully prepared through an initial wetness impregnation of gallium nitrate hydrate and melamine, and subsequent a facile solid-phase reaction. The as-synthesized GaN nanoparticles could be well dispersed upon being loaded on Q-x support. It is found that GaN is an active phase for the dehydrogenation of propane to propene in CO2 atmosphere, wherein CO2 acts as a soft oxidant for not only promoting the activity and selectivity but also closely influencing the deposited carbon formation. In addition, the GaN/Q-3 catalyst with 5 wt % of GaN displays a propane conversion of 31 % with a selectivity of 93 % for propene at 600 °C in CO2 atmosphere, which is obviously superior to bulk GaN under the same reaction conditions. This is due to the synergetic interaction of small particle size and well dispersion of GaN and efficient CO2 adsorption in narrow-pore-rich Q-3 support. So, this finding not only extends the catalytic system of CO2 oxidation dehydrogenation of propane to propene, but also promotes its progress towards potential industrial exploitation.