Hybrid Nanocarbon as a Catalyst for Direct Dehydrogenation of Propane: Formation of an Active and Selective Core–Shell sp2/sp3 Nanocomposite Structure |
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Authors: | Dr. Rui Wang Xiaoyan Sun Dr. Bingsen Zhang Dr. Xiaoying Sun Prof. Dangsheng Su |
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Affiliation: | 1. Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016 (P.R. China);2. National Institute of Clean‐and‐Low‐Carbon Energy, Changping District, Beijing, 102209 (P.R. China) |
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Abstract: | Hybrid nanocarbon, comprised of a diamond core and a graphitic shell with a variable sp2‐/sp3‐carbon ratio, is controllably obtained through sequential annealing treatment (550–1300 °C) of nanodiamond. The formation of sp2 carbon increases with annealing temperature and the nanodiamond surface is reconstructed from amorphous into a well‐ordered, onion‐like carbon structure via an intermediate composite structure—a diamond core covered by a defective, curved graphene outer shell. Direct dehydrogenation of propane shows that the sp2‐/sp3‐nanocomposite exhibits superior catalytic performance to that of individual nanodiamond and graphitic nanocarbon. The optimum catalytic activity of the diamond/graphene composite depends on the maximum structural defectiveness and high chemical reactivity of the ketone groups. Ketone‐type functional groups anchored on the defects/vacancies are active for propene formation; nevertheless, once the oxygen functional groups are desorbed, the defects/vacancies alone might be active sites responsible for the C?H bond activation of propane. |
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Keywords: | carbon core– shell structures dehydrogenation propane nanoparticles |
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