Low-temperature selective catalytic dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane by surface protonics

The methylcyclohexane (MCH)-toluene cycle is a promising liquid organic hydride system as a hydrogen carrier. Generally, MCH dehydrogenation has been conducted over Pt-supported catalysts, for which it requires temperatures higher than 623 K because of its endothermic nature. For this study, an electric field was applied to Pt/TiO₂ catalyst to promote MCH dehydrogenation at low temperatures. Selective dehydrogenation was achieved with the electric field application exceeding thermodynamic equilibrium, even at 423 K. With the electric field, "inverse" kinetic isotope effect (KIE) was observed by accelerated proton collision with MCH on the Pt/TiO₂ catalyst. Moreover, Pt/TiO₂ catalyst showed no methane by-production and less coke formation during MCH dehydrogenation. DRIFTS and XPS measurements revealed that electron donation from TiO₂ to Pt weakened the interaction between catalyst surface and π-coordination of toluene. Results show that the electric field facilitated MCH dehydrogenation without methane and coke by-production over Pt/TiO₂ catalyst.