Development of Alkane Conversion Catalysis of Metal Hydride Species in Zeolites and Bulk Metal Hydrides

Catalytic studies on metal hydrides are an unexplored area of catalytic chemistry, with fewer reports compared to those on metals or metal oxides. This paper describes our recent works on highly efficient ethane dehydrogenation using metal hydride species in zeolites and propane transformation reactions over bulk metal hydrides. In and Ga hydride species within zeolites act as active sites in the ethane dehydrogenation reaction. Their local structures are closely related to ethylene selectivity and catalyst durability. Bulk metal hydrides, such as TiH2 and LaH3, exhibit a low activation barrier for propane dehydrogenation reaction. Furthermore, propane metathesis reactions over TiH2 surfaces have also been observed, demonstrating the multifunctionality of bulk metal hydrides. Surface hydrogen defects and low-valent metal species on metal hydride surfaces contribute to these reactions.