Low-temperature selective dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane by surface protonics over Pt/anatase-TiO2 catalyst

Abstract For a liquid organic hydride system used for a hydrogen carrier, methylcyclohexane (MCH)–toluene cycle is promising. In this cycle, dehydrogenation of MCH is an endothermic reaction and a key step. We have conducted dehydrogenation of MCH over Pt/anatase-TiO2 catalyst in an electric field to promote MCH dehydrogenation at a temperature as low as 448 K. The electric field application brought high activity of 37% conversion even at 448 K, exceeding the thermodynamic equilibrium of 12%. This Pt/anatase-TiO2 catalyst showed only a small amount of methane and carbon by-production and showed high activity for 360 min because of surface protonics.