Mo/KIT-6, Fe/KIT-6 and Mo–Fe/KIT-6 as new types of heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of MCP

Mo, Fe and Mo–Fe catalysts were prepared by the solid–solid method and systematically characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, N2 sorption, H2-TPR, UV–vis, XPS and EPR physico-chemical techniques. The dispersion and the nature of the metal species depended strongly on the metal content. At low metal contents, isolated tetrahedrally coordinated metal entities and small nanoclusters were observed, whereas aggregates were formed at high metal loadings. The superior catalytic performance in the ring opening of MCP has been attributed to the highly dispersed isolated tetrahedral entities and highly dispersed small FeOx nanoclusters. The aggregates favor the cracking reactions.

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► The highly dispersed isolated tetrahedral entities favor the ring opening.
► Isolated tetrahedral Fe ions favor the endocyclic CC bond rupture at substituted CC.
► The aggregates were responsible for the cracking reaction.