Ga-Pt bimetallic catalysts for propane dehydrogenation: Synergy, stability and strategies for industrial advancement: A literature review

The growing global demand for propylene, a key petrochemical feedstock, has intensified research into sustainable production methods beyond conventional cracking processes. Among emerging technologies, propane dehydrogenation (PDH) has gained prominence as a clean and direct route to propylene. This review critically examines the recent advances in gallium-platinum (Ga-Pt) catalysts, which have demonstrated exceptional performance in PDH. The synergy between Gallium and Platinum improves selectivity, suppresses coke formation, and enhances catalyst stability by isolating Platinum atoms and electronically modifying active sites. Developments such as single-atom intermetallics, Supported Catalytically Active Liquid-Metal Solutions (SCALMS), and electronic self-recovery mechanisms are discussed in detail. This review also explores advanced synthesis and characterization techniques, including Atomic Layer Deposition, X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and operando spectroscopy, that elucidate active site structure and dynamics. Benchmarking data reveal Ga-Pt systems consistently outperform traditional Pt-Sn catalysts in activity, selectivity, and resistance to deactivation. The integration of machine learning and high-throughput screening has accelerated the design of next-generation catalysts. Finally, the industrial and environmental implications, challenges in scale-up, and future directions including ternary alloys and autonomous discovery platforms are addressed. This comprehensive analysis highlights Ga-Pt catalysis as a blueprint for rational catalyst design in PDH and beyond.