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Abstract

We demonstrate that mesoporous carbon without deposition of metal particles is a highly active catalyst. It exhibits both high activity and selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene, as well as long catalytic stability when compared with activated carbon. Both the as-prepared mesoporous carbon and the active coke formed during the initial stage of the reaction play an important role in the catalytic performance. XPS and IR techniques reveal that the surface oxygen functional groups formed during the reaction are the active sites for the reaction. The ordered mesoporous structure is beneficial for mass transport in catalytic reaction exhibiting long term stability in contrast to activated carbon.