Relationship between bulk phase, near surface and outermost atomic layer of VPO catalysts and their catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

Abstract A set of vanadium phosphorous oxide (VPO) catalysts, mainly consisting of (VO) 2 P 2 O 7 , VO(PO 3 ) 2 or VOPO 4 ·2H 2 O bulk crystalline phases, has been investigated for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane to ethylene, a key potential reaction for a sustainable industrial and socioeconomic development. The catalytic performance on these VPO catalysts has been explained on the basis of the main crystalline phases and the corresponding surface features found by XPS and LEISS at 400 °C, i.e. within the temperature range used for ODH reaction. The catalysts based on (VO) 2 P 2 O 7 phase presented the highest catalytic activity and productivity to ethylene. Nevertheless, the…