Efficient catalysts for olefins from alkanes: sol–gel synthesis of high surface area nano scale mixed oxide clusters

High surface area nano scale Li/MgO oxide clusters with low lithium loadings are prepared by sol–gel method. Appreciable amounts of lithium present can be incorporated into the magnesia gel during preparation and retained in the oxide matrix after gel combustion. This limits presence of free lithium phases and helps prevent the associated sintering and loss of surface area during thermal treatments. The sol–gel method also allows to circumvent the high temperature treatments necessary to incorporate lithium into the magnesia oxide matrix, a prerequisite for the formation of [Li⁺O⁻] type defect sites which are the catalytically active sites for oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes.