The electronic and structural properties of vanadium-containing phases govern the formation of isolated active sites at the surface of these catalysts for selective alkane oxidation. This concept is not restricted to vanadium oxide. The deliberate use of hydrothermal techniques can turn the typical combustion catalyst manganese oxide into a selective catalyst for oxidative propane dehydrogenation. Nanostructured, crystalline MnWO4 serves as the support that stabilizes a defect-rich MnOx surface phase. Oxygen defects can be reversibly replenished and depleted at the reaction temperature. Terminating MnOx zigzag chains on the (010) crystal planes are suspected to bear structurally site-isolated oxygen defects that account for the unexpectedly good performance of the catalyst in propane activation.

In situ Raman spectroscopy allows insight into molecular processes under hydrothermal conditions during synthesis of complex nanostructured MoVTeNb oxides (see picture: Nb yellow, Mo blue, V/Mo pale blue, Te red). Based on the knowledge acquired, the synthesis can be more efficiently directed towards the desired product with improved functionality.

Picometer-scale displacements of one metal site and their local distribution in open structured (Mo,V,Te,Nb)Ox are described.

n situ Raman spectroscopy allows insight into molecular processes under hydrothermal conditions during synthesis of complex nanostructured MoVTeNb oxides (see picture: Nb yellow, Mo blue, V/Mo pale blue, Te red). Based on the knowledge acquired, the synthesis can be more efficiently directed towards the desired product with improved functionality

Elektronische und strukturelle Eigenschaften vanadiumhaltiger Phasen steuern die Entstehung isolierter aktiver Zentren an der Oberfläche von Katalysatoren für die selektive Oxidation von Alkanen. Wir zeigen, dass dieses Konzept nicht nur auf Vanadiumoxide beschränkt ist. Durch gezielte Anwendung hydrothermaler Synthesemethoden konnte aus dem typischen Verbrennungskatalysator Manganoxidein selektiver Katalysator für die oxidative Dehydrierung von Propan entwickeltw erden. Nanostrukturiertes,k ristallines MnWO 4 dient als Trägermaterial, das in der Synthese eine defektreiche MnO x -Oberflächenphase hervorbringt. Sauerstoffdefekte kçnnen bei Reaktionstemperatur reversibel verbrauchtu nd regeneriert werden. Es wird vermutet, dass MnO x -Zickzack-Ketten an der Oberfläche von (010)-Kristallflächen strukturell isolierte Sauerstoffdefekte tragen, die für die unerwartet gute Leistung des Katalysators in der Propanaktivierung verantwortlich sind.