Enhanced catalytic performance in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane via trace nickel oxide and boron nitride synergy

Abstract

The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) is an attractive route for ethylene production. While hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) demonstrates excellent ethylene selectivity as a catalyst for ODHE, its limited ability to activate ethane necessitates high reaction temperatures. In this study, we developed a series of h-BN modified with trace amounts of NiO nanoparticles (xNiO/h-BN) to enhance ODHE performance. At a NiO loading of 1.0 wt%, the composite catalyst achieved optimal performance, with 30.4% ethane conversion and 86.6% ethylene selectivity at 590°C, representing a 1.5-fold improvement in activity over pristine h-BN. Experimental results reveal that trace NiO nanoparticles do not promote the decomposition of h-BN to generate excessive BO_x species. Instead, these exposed nanoparticles play a synergistic role in activating ethane. The generated active ethyl radicals are rapidly dehydrogenated by adjacent BO_x species, thereby enhancing catalytic activity while maintaining selectivity for the target product. This work advances the understanding of co-catalytic interactions between metal oxide and h-BN and highlights the negative effects of BO_x overlayers on NiO surfaces, offering valuable insights for designing h-BN-based catalysts in ODHE.