Tuning catalytic selectivity of propane oxidative dehydrogenation via surface polymeric phosphate modification on nickel oxide nanoparticles

Abstract Thermal stability has long been recognized as a major limitation for the application of ligand modification in high-temperature reactions. Herein, we demonstrate polymeric phosphate as an efficient and stable ligand to tune the selectivity of propane oxidative dehydrogenation. Beneficial from the weakened affinity of propene, NiO modified with polymeric phosphate shows a selectivity 2–3 times higher than NiO towards the production of propene. The success of this regulation verifies the feasibility of ligand modification in high-temperature gas-phase reactions and shines a light on its applications in other important industrial reactions.