Catalysis Letters, Vol.111, No.3-4, 159-163, 2006
Nano-sized crystallites of vanadyl pyrophosphate as a highly selective catalyst for n-butane oxidation
Exfoliation-reduction of VOPO4 center dot 2H(2)O in a mixed alcohol consisting of 2-butanol and ethanol, followed by the thermal treatment in the presence of n-butane, O-2, and He at 663 K for 300 h, produces novel nano-sized crystallites (similar to 50 nm) of (VO)(2)P2O7. The nano-sized (VO)(2)P2O7 crystallites exhibit a high selectivity to maleic anhydride (similar to 84%) for the selective oxidation of n-butane.