Combining CO₂ Reduction with Ethane Oxidative Dehydrogenation by Oxygen-Modification of Molybdenum Carbide

The surface properties that determine the selectivity of Mo₂C catalysts in ethane oxidative dehydrogenation with CO₂ as a soft oxidant were investigated using a combination of pulse experiments and in-situ spectroscopic methods. Oxygen modification was discovered to be crucial for inhibiting the cleavage of the C-C bond in ethane and enhancing the production of ethylene. The addition of the Fe promoter accelerated the formation of surface oxygen species and stabilized them from reduction by ethane, leading to a shorter induction period, higher ethylene yield, and improved stability.