Revolution in Clean Catalysis: Propane Converted into Propylene Using Sunlight and Water

Copper Single-Atom Catalyst for Propane Dehydrogenation

Published: July 30, 2025 | By Quantum Server Networks

In an unprecedented breakthrough in clean chemistry, Chinese researchers have developed a low-temperature, solar-powered method for converting propane into propylene—a critical industrial feedstock—by using a novel copper-based single-atom catalyst. This new process operates at near-room temperature and relies on light and water, eliminating the need for the extremely high temperatures (typically over 600 °C) required in traditional propane dehydrogenation (PDH).

The original article is published in SciTechDaily: Chinese Scientists Develop Breakthrough Catalyst for Clean Propane Conversion.

A Major Leap for Propane Dehydrogenation

PDH is a key step in producing propylene, which is used in making plastics, synthetic fibers, and numerous industrial chemicals. However, conventional PDH processes require extreme heat and result in high energy consumption, catalyst degradation, and carbon buildup.

The new approach, introduced by scientists from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics and the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), replaces heat-intensive conditions with a photo-thermo catalytic system. This combines light, water vapor, and a Cu1/TiO2 single-atom catalyst (SAC) to convert propane into propylene under remarkably mild conditions—just 50 to 80 °C.

How It Works: The Light-Water-Copper Synergy

Using a continuous-flow fixed-bed reactor, the researchers achieved reaction rates of up to 1201 ฮผmol gcat-1 h-1 at low temperature. The secret lies in the synergy between sunlight, water, and isolated copper atoms anchored to a titanium dioxide substrate.

Photocatalytic water splitting generates hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals on the surface of the Cu1/TiO2 catalyst. These radicals play a central role in removing hydrogen from propane molecules, forming propylene and regenerating water in the process. The water itself is not consumed but acts catalytically—offering a completely novel, low-waste reaction pathway compared to oxidative dehydrogenation or traditional PDH.

Beyond Propane: Ethane and Butane Also Targeted

Even more promising, the researchers demonstrated that their water-light-catalyst system can be adapted to convert other light alkanes like ethane and butane. This opens the door for broader applications in natural gas upgrading and downstream petrochemical manufacturing using solar energy as the driving force.

According to corresponding author Prof. Xiaoyan Liu, “Our study not only provides a new way for PDH but also establishes a paradigm for conducting high-temperature reactions driven by solar energy.”

Implications for Green Chemistry and Industry

This discovery could be a game-changer for the global chemical industry, offering a highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly method of producing one of the world’s most vital chemical building blocks. It also aligns with growing global interest in photocatalytic and single-atom catalysis—fields that promise higher selectivity, reduced waste, and better catalyst utilization.

As the world shifts toward decarbonizing industrial processes, the ability to carry out thermally intense reactions at near-room temperature using sunlight and water vapor could help usher in a new era of sustainable chemistry.

From fundamental research to potential industrial deployment, this copper-driven breakthrough is a powerful step toward a cleaner chemical future.

Sponsored by PWmat (Lonxun Quantum) – a leading developer of GPU-accelerated materials simulation software for cutting-edge quantum, energy, and semiconductor research. Learn more about our solutions at: https://www.pwmat.com/en

๐Ÿ“˜ Download our latest company brochure to explore our software features, capabilities, and success stories: PWmat PDF Brochure

๐Ÿ“ž Phone: +86 400-618-6006
๐Ÿ“ง Email: support@pwmat.com

© 2025 Quantum Server Networks. All rights reserved.

#Photocatalysis #PropaneConversion #SingleAtomCatalyst #GreenChemistry #PDH #HydrocarbonReforming #SustainableCatalysis #SolarEnergy #MaterialsScience #QuantumServerNetworks #PWmat

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AI Tools for Chemistry: The ‘Death’ of DFT or the Beginning of a New Computational Era?

Image
For decades, Density Functional Theory (DFT) has been the workhorse of quantum chemistry and materials modeling. From predicting electronic structures to optimizing molecular geometries, DFT has powered countless breakthroughs in fields as diverse as catalysis, materials design, and condensed matter physics. But recent announcements in the scientific community have caused ripples: is DFT “dead” — or is this simply the dawn of a new computational era powered by artificial intelligence ? The Shock of Declaring a Field “Dead” The provocative statement came during the EuChemS Inorganic Chemistry Conference , where theoretical chemist Markus Reiher announced the “death of DFT.” His claim wasn’t about obsolescence in a literal sense, but about a paradigm shift: AI models can now deliver DFT-level accuracy at a fraction of the cost , fundamentally changing how chemists approach molecular modeling. This echoes previous moments in scientific history where disruptive technologi...
Read more

Quantum Chemistry Meets AI: A New Era for Molecular Machine Learning

Image
In a powerful leap forward for computational chemistry and materials design, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new kind of molecular machine learning model—one that goes beyond simplistic molecular graphs and integrates fundamental principles of quantum chemistry. Their work, published in Nature Machine Intelligence , could radically enhance our ability to predict chemical behavior, optimize catalysts, and discover new drugs, all while using less data and gaining more scientific insight. The Problem: Traditional Molecular Representations Fall Short Molecular machine learning (ML) models underpin key processes in drug discovery, materials science, and catalysis. However, most existing models use simplified representations such as SMILES strings, 2D graphs, or coordinate matrices. These techniques often lack the quantum-chemical information that governs how molecules truly behave—particularly electron interactions that define reactivity, stability, and...
Read more

Revolutionize Your Materials R&D with PWmat

Image
GPU-Accelerated Simulation Software for Cutting-Edge Research Are you working in quantum materials , semiconductors , or energy materials ? Then it’s time to supercharge your research with PWmat by Lonxun Quantum – a leader in GPU-accelerated first-principles simulation software designed to meet the evolving demands of advanced materials science. PWmat offers a powerful suite of high-performance computing tools specifically optimized for modern NVIDIA GPUs , helping researchers: ✅ Simulate complex materials at quantum scale ✅ Accelerate DFT calculations ✅ Reduce time-to-result drastically ✅ Optimize large-scale simulations with intuitive workflows Whether you're in academia, industry, or a national lab , PWmat is trusted by institutions and scientists across the globe pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in computational materials science. ๐ŸŽ Clai...
Read more