The catalytic performance of Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst in comparison with Ni/Al2O3 catalyst in dehydrogenation of cyclohexane

•Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst was used for dehydrogenation of cyclohexane.•The catalyst showed a superior activity.•The activity is ascribed to the special physicochemical properties of Ni2P.•The P-covered Ni(2) sites are responsible for dehydrogenation of cyclohexane.•The catalyst has much greater amount of the Ni(2) sites.

The Ni2P/γ-Al2O3 and Ni/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared, characterized, and evaluated for dehydrogenation of cyclohexane. The Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited superior activity, selectivity and stability to those of the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. Characterization results indicate that the small positive charge of Ni and the ensemble effect of P in Ni2P can inhibit sintering of Ni2P and promote reactivity of Ni2P in dehydrogenation of cyclohexane. Moreover, the in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra further reveal that the P-covered Ni(2) sites (Ni3P_P sites) of Ni2P(0 0 0 1) are responsible for dehydrogenation of cyclohexane. Meanwhile, the hydrogen temperature-programmed desorption experiments indicate that the Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst contains a large amount of the Ni(2) sites.

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