title: Catalysis. Identification of molybdenum oxide nanostructures on zeolites for natural gas conversion.
abstract: Direct methane conversion into aromatic hydrocarbons over catalysts with molybdenum (Mo) nanostructures supported on shape-selective zeolites is a promising technology for natural gas liquefaction. We determined the identity and anchoring sites of the initial Mo structures in such catalysts as isolated oxide species with a single Mo atom on aluminum sites in the zeolite framework and on silicon sites on the zeolite external surface. During the reaction, the initial isolated Mo oxide species agglomerate and convert into carbided Mo nanoparticles. This process is reversible, and the initial isolated Mo oxide species can be restored by a treatment with gas-phase oxygen. Furthermore, the distribution of the Mo nanostructures can be controlled and catalytic performance can be fully restored, even enhanced, by adjusting the oxygen treatment.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.
authors: Yiteng
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: Operando Molecular Spectroscopy and Catalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors: Jih-Mirn
authors: JM
authors: Jehng
authors: Operando Molecular Spectroscopy and Catalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
authors: Yadan
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: Operando Molecular Spectroscopy and Catalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. iew0@lehigh.edu simon.podkolzin@stevens.edu.
authors: Israel E
authors: IE
authors: Wachs
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA. iew0@lehigh.edu simon.podkolzin@stevens.edu.
authors: Simon G
authors: SG
authors: Podkolzin