近日，清华大学王定胜团队报道了自组装离子液体-SnO2空心球催化溴介导电化学丙烷脱氢。该研究于2026年4月2日发表在《科学》杂志上。

传统的热丙烷脱氢（PDH）工艺存在一些显著缺陷，包括能耗高、结焦导致的催化剂失活以及需要进行产物分离。

研究组报道了一种利用自组装离子液体（IL）-二氧化锡（SnO₂）空心球作为电催化剂的电催化方法，在常温下实现了高效PDH。在这个过程中，丙烷在阳极电解液中生成的溴丙烷会与阴极处的羟基阴离子发生反应生成丙烯。丙烯的选择性超过98%，通过阳极电解液连续产出高纯度（>99%）的丙烯气体，而无需后续分离纯化。这种IL-SnO₂催化剂可保持其活性和选择性超过6000小时，且电压增幅仅为每小时3.16微伏。机理研究表明，IL层能够增强丙烷的吸附效果，并促进相邻锡位点上的碳氢键活化步骤。反应结束后，IL层会促进丙烯的解吸，并抑制深度脱氢副反应。

附：英文原文

Title: Bromine-mediated electrochemical propane dehydrogenation by self-assembled ionic liquid-SnO2 hollow spheres

Author: Jiarui Yang, Zhihao Pei, Bo-Chao Ye, Wen-Hao Li, Han Yan, Deyan Luan, Dingsheng Wang, Xiong Wen (David) Lou

Issue&Volume: 2026-04-02

Abstract: Conventional thermal propane dehydrogenation (PDH) faces several notable drawbacks, including high energy requirements, coking-induced catalyst deactivation, and the need for product separation. An electrocatalytic approach, using self-assembled ionic liquid (IL)–tin dioxide (SnO2) hollow spheres as the electrocatalyst, enables efficient PDH at ambient temperature. In this process, bromopropane formed in the anolyte from propane reacts with hydroxyl anions from the cathode to yield propene. The propene selectivity exceeds 98%, and the continuous production of high-purity (>99%) propene gas from the anolyte eliminates the need for downstream separation. The IL-SnO2 catalyst maintains its activity and selectivity for more than 6000 hours, with a small voltage increase rate of 3.16 microvolts per hour. Mechanistic studies suggest that the IL layer enhances propane adsorption and facilitates the carbon-hydrogen bond activation step on adjacent Sn sites. After reaction, the IL layer promotes propene desorption and suppresses deep dehydrogenation.

DOI: aed2309

Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aed2309