A simultaneous operando FTIR & Raman study of propane ODH mechanism over V-Zr-O catalysts

Abstract Simultaneous operando Raman and transmission FTIR spectroscopic measurements have been combined for the study of the structure-activity relationships of V-Zr-O catalysts during propane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH). The combination of both spectroscopies during reaction allows the identification of reaction intermediates and yields structural information about the catalyst. The experimental results are compared with available data in the literature to propose a reaction mechanism for propane ODH on V-Zr-O catalytic systems, and to identify the role of different oxygen species bound to vanadium sites. The results are consistent with a Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. Besides, they clearly show higher activity of bridging oxygen sites (V-O-V, V-O-Zr) than terminal V O bonds.