Photo2Olef · Photo-assisted Light Alkanes Dehydrogenation to Olefines Under Mild Conditions with Trimetallic clusters Confined in Zr-based MOFs as the Catalyst

Photo-assisted Light Alkanes Dehydrogenation to Olefines Under Mild Conditions with Trimetallic clusters Confined in Zr-based MOFs as the Catalyst

To address the pressing need for sustainable and low-emission chemical manufacturing, this project aims to develop advanced catalytic systems for solar-assisted C-H activation, a central challenge in green chemistry. The ability to break and transform C-H bonds under mild conditions enables the conversion of abundant, low-value feedstocks into fuels and platform chemicals, while minimizing energy input and CO2 emissions. Originally, the project focused on photothermal dehydrogenation of light alkanes using trimetallic catalysts confined in porous frameworks. These catalysts were designed to efficiently capture light and promote bond activation, with the dual goal of olefin and hydrogen production under ambient conditions. This approach directly supports the EU’s ambition for clean hydrogen and electrified chemical processes. As the project progressed, the research was expanded and refined based on experimental findings, to explore broader but mechanistically related C–H activation pathways. This included: (1) Photocatalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid to produce H2. (2) The investigation of proton transfer process in photocatalytic H2 evolution systems in the presence of organic molecules as the electron donor. (3) A novel photo-assisted transformation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) into ethylene glycol, coupled with hydrogen evolution. These directions remain tightly aligned with the project’s core objectives: utilizing solar energy for catalytic C-H activation, producing green hydrogen, and enabling low-temperature chemical transformations using innovative materials. By maintaining the focus on solar-driven catalysis and sustainable hydrogen generation, the project continues to contribute directly to climate goals and the decarbonization of the chemical sector.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union