Room-temperature activation of the C–H bond in the dehydrogenation of ethane over a Cu/TiO2 catalyst

Abstract

A novel photocatalytic system of Cu/TiO₂ for activation the C–H bond in the dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene at room temperature is proposed. The optimized 1%-Cu/TiO₂ catalyst achieved C₂H₆ conversion of 1.70%, C₂H₄ selectivity of 98.41%, and exhibited excellent stability. The active site Cu^δ+ showed high dispersion on the TiO₂ surface. Theoretical calculations and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy revealed a reaction mechanism: C₂H₆ is first activated by adsorption over the Cu_4C/TiO₂ catalyst with elongation of the C–H bond, attacked by h⁺/˙OH to form ethyl radicals, which are then converted to C₂H₄.