An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst capable of improving the selectivity of unsaturated aldehydes and unsaturated carboxylic acids, and a catalyst containing molybdenum, antimony, bismuth, and iron, wherein an atom ratio of the antimony to the molybdenum on a surface of the catalyst is greater than an atom ratio of the antimony to the molybdenum in the entire catalyst is provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst capable of improving the selectivity of unsaturated aldehydes and unsaturated carboxylic acids, and a catalyst containing molybdenum, antimony, bismuth, and iron, wherein an atom ratio of the antimony to the molybdenum on a surface of the catalyst is greater than an atom ratio of the antimony to the molybdenum in the entire catalyst is provided.

Described are methods for converting methane to olefins, aromatics, or a combination thereof using a single atom catalyst comprising CeO.sub.2 nanoparticles impregnated with individual atoms of noble metals including Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ag, Au, Ir, or a combination thereof. These single atom catalysts of the present invention are heated with methane to form olefins and aromatics.

Described are methods for converting methane to olefins, aromatics, or a combination thereof using a single atom catalyst comprising CeO.sub.2 nanoparticles impregnated with individual atoms of noble metals including Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ag, Au, Ir, or a combination thereof. These single atom catalysts of the present invention are heated with methane to form olefins and aromatics.

A NaY molecular sieve with an aluminum-rich surface is prepared using a process that includes the steps of: a. mixing a directing agent and a first silicon source to obtain a first mixture, wherein the directing agent has a molar composition of Na.sub.2O:Al.sub.2O.sub.3:SiO.sub.2:H.sub.2O=(6-25):1:(6-25):(200-400); b. mixing the first mixture obtained in the step a with a second silicon source, an aluminum source and water to obtain a second mixture; c. carrying out hydrothermal crystallization on the second mixture obtained in the step b, and collecting a solid product. Calculated as SiO.sub.2, the weight ratio of the first silicon source to the second silicon source is 1:(0.01-12). The NaY molecular sieve has larger aluminum distribution gradient from the surface to the center of the particle than the conventional molecular sieve.

A NaY molecular sieve with an aluminum-rich surface is prepared using a process that includes the steps of: a. mixing a directing agent and a first silicon source to obtain a first mixture, wherein the directing agent has a molar composition of Na.sub.2O:Al.sub.2O.sub.3:SiO.sub.2:H.sub.2O=(6-25):1:(6-25):(200-400); b. mixing the first mixture obtained in the step a with a second silicon source, an aluminum source and water to obtain a second mixture; c. carrying out hydrothermal crystallization on the second mixture obtained in the step b, and collecting a solid product. Calculated as SiO.sub.2, the weight ratio of the first silicon source to the second silicon source is 1:(0.01-12). The NaY molecular sieve has larger aluminum distribution gradient from the surface to the center of the particle than the conventional molecular sieve.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a modifying metal content of about 0.5-6.3 wt % calculated on the basis of an oxide of the modifying metal and a sodium content of no more than about 0.5 wt % calculated on the basis of sodium oxide. The modifying metal is magnesium and/or calcium. The modified Y-type molecular sieve has a proportion of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 20%, a total pore volume of about 0.33-0.39 ml/g, a proportion of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 10-25%, a lattice constant of about 2.440-2.455 nm, a lattice collapse temperature of not lower than about 1040° C., and a ratio of B acid to L acid in the total acid content of no less than about 2.30.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a modifying metal content of about 0.5-6.3 wt % calculated on the basis of an oxide of the modifying metal and a sodium content of no more than about 0.5 wt % calculated on the basis of sodium oxide. The modifying metal is magnesium and/or calcium. The modified Y-type molecular sieve has a proportion of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 20%, a total pore volume of about 0.33-0.39 ml/g, a proportion of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 10-25%, a lattice constant of about 2.440-2.455 nm, a lattice collapse temperature of not lower than about 1040° C., and a ratio of B acid to L acid in the total acid content of no less than about 2.30.

A catalyst that includes heterogeneous metal carbide nanomaterials and a novel preparation method to synthesize the metal carbide nanomaterials under relatively mild conditions to form an encapsulated transition metal and/or transition metal carbide nanoclusters in a support and/or binder. The catalyst may include confined platinum carbide nanoclusters. The preparation may include the treatment of encapsulated platinum nanoclusters with ethane at elevated temperatures. The catalysts may be used for catalytic hydrocarbon conversions, which include but are not limited to, ethane aromatization, and for selective hydrogenation, with negligible green oil production.

A catalyst that includes heterogeneous metal carbide nanomaterials and a novel preparation method to synthesize the metal carbide nanomaterials under relatively mild conditions to form an encapsulated transition metal and/or transition metal carbide nanoclusters in a support and/or binder. The catalyst may include confined platinum carbide nanoclusters. The preparation may include the treatment of encapsulated platinum nanoclusters with ethane at elevated temperatures. The catalysts may be used for catalytic hydrocarbon conversions, which include but are not limited to, ethane aromatization, and for selective hydrogenation, with negligible green oil production.