Activation of small molecules over praseodymium-doped ceria

Praseodymium can modify the properties of ceria (CeO2), changing the electronic structure, reducibility and catalytic behavior. Oxygen vacancies in the ceria-based samples can activate C-O and C-H bonds of small molecules such as CO2 and propane. Partially reduced Pr/CeO2-x can selectively activate C-H of propane, giving a propylene selectivity of ca. 75% at a propane conversion of 5% to 10%. Excess reduction of Pr/CeO2-x induces coking reactions during propane dehydrogenation, resulting in fast catalyst deactivation. (C) 2019, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.