Effect of SiO2 on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of VMoTeNbО catalyst in oxidative conversion of ethane

Abstract

Supported oxide catalysts of the overall composition V_0.3Mo₁Te_0.23Nb_0.12/n SiO₂ (n = 0, 10, 25, 35, and 50 wt %) were tested in oxidative conversion of ethane to ethylene and were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. On introducing SiO₂, coarse crystals of the active М1 phase become partially coated with layers of amorphous SiO₂. The support does not influence the selectivity with respect to the reaction products. The catalysts with 10–25 wt % SiO₂ content exhibit the highest activity owing to the presence of nanodomains of the M1 phase.