Issue 4, 2024

Investigating the mechanism of propylene epoxidation over halogen (X = F, Cl, Br, I) modified Cu2O(110) surfaces: a theoretical study

Abstract

The direct epoxidation of propylene using molecular oxygen to synthesize propylene oxide (PO) is a process of significant industrial and environmental interest. In this study, we employed density functional theory to explore the influence of halogen doping (specifically F, Cl, Br, and I) on the Cu2O(110) surface. The computational investigation revealed that replacing a surface lattice oxygen with a halogen atom would enhance the electron density of adjacent Cu sites, leading to more effective formation of the O2 species. Our results indicated that the selectivity for PO production on these halogen-modified catalysts adheres to the sequence Cl > Br > F > I. Further structural analysis indicated that halogen integration adjusts the twist angle of the pivotal oxametallacycle propylene intermediate, effectively suppressing the competitive α-H abstraction side reaction and thereby elevating PO selectivity. These insights into the electronic and structural effects induced by halogens presented a compelling strategy for the development of more efficient catalysts for propylene epoxidation.

Graphical abstract: Investigating the mechanism of propylene epoxidation over halogen (X = F, Cl, Br, I) modified Cu2O(110) surfaces: a theoretical study

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Dec 2023
Accepted
09 Jan 2024
First published
09 Jan 2024

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024,14, 928-934

Investigating the mechanism of propylene epoxidation over halogen (X = F, Cl, Br, I) modified Cu2O(110) surfaces: a theoretical study

L. Zhou, Z. Wen, L. Cui, G. Yang, Y. Luo, Y. Xie, C. Cui, C. Li and G. Fu, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024, 14, 928 DOI: 10.1039/D3CY01697H

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