Sucrose-templated mesoporous β-Ga2O3 as a novel efficient catalyst for dehydrogenation of propane in the presence of CO2

A series of mesoporous β-Ga2O3 with high surface area have been prepared using eco-friendly sucrose as a non-surfactant template and studied in relation to their performance in the dehydrogenation of propane to propylene in the presence of CO2. Among the four sucrose-derived samples tested, the material prepared from a sucrose/Ga2O3 molar ratio of 4 achieved the highest propane conversion, which was approximately the double efficiency of the conventional β-Ga2O3. The enhanced activity of the sucrose-derived materials is attributed to a high abundance of coordinative unsaturated surface Ga sites as a consequence of their favorable textural properties and enhanced surface areas.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Mesoporous β-Ga2O3 with high surface area was prepared. ► Eco-friendly sucrose was used as a non-surfactant template. ► Propane dehydrogenation in the presence of CO2 over the β-Ga2O3 samples was studied. ► Enhanced activities were attributed to beneficial surface and textural properties.