Catalytic properties of Pt-based intermetallic compounds in dehydrogenation of cyclohexane and n-butane

•Alkane dehydrogenation over various Pt-based intermetallic compounds on SiO2.•Pt3Sn intermetallic phase shows the highest catalytic performance and stability.•The catalytic property depends on nature of the second metal and a geometric factor.

A series of Pt-based intermetallic compounds supported on silica (PtmMn/SiO2: M = Co, Ge, Sn, Tl and Zn) were prepared by conventional impregnation and chemical vapor deposition. Catalytic properties of the intermetallic compounds in dehydrogenation of cyclohexane and n-butane were investigated. Pt3Sn/SiO2 and PtGe/SiO2 showed higher yields of benzene and butenes than Pt/SiO2 and other intermetallic catalysts (Pt3Zn, Pt3Co, PtCo, Pt3Tl2 and PtSn). Especially in n-butane dehydrogenation, Pt3Sn/SiO2 exhibited much higher butenes yield than other intermetallic catalysts and Pt/SiO2. However, a similar Pt–Sn intermetallic catalyst, PtSn/SiO2, showed very poor yields in both reactions. Pt3Sn and PtSn, Pt3Sn was the most active species in the n-butane dehydrogenation among several Pt–Sn bimetal phases, Pt1−xSnx solid solution (0 < x < 0.3).

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