This project entails four consecutive parts for the development of optimal catalytic systems for the magnetically-induced oxidative dehydrogenation of light alkanes to olefins with CO2 during a period of 36 months. The first part (A) deals with the synthesis and basic characterization of nanostructured catalysts with magnetic properties and heat delivery ability. The second part (B) focuses on the catalytic evaluation of the materials in the CO2-ODH of light alkanes in a gas-phase continuous flow fix-bed reactor. The third part (C) is dedicated to the advanced characterization of the leading candidates and the fourth part (D) to the mechanistic and kinetic studies, taking into account that the fundamental understanding of the catalysts is central to this study. Accordingly, Part A encompasses the preparation of a library of materials based on

supported metal catalysts,

nanoparticles of mixed metal oxides, and

(iii)

core-shell structures of metal oxides, by which the controlled syntheses to obtain certain sizes, shapes, and the core-shell morphology will create new functionalities to enhance the catalytic performance.

All materials will be tested in both the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane and propane in a gas-phase continuous flow fixed-bed reactor set up for catalytic evaluation (Part B). Once promising leads are identified (Milestone 1, M1, M2), in-depth characterization (Part C), computational, and

mechanistic and kinetic studies (Part D) will be performed on these catalysts and on selected materials to improve fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms and to derive synthesis-structure-performance relationships for each catalyst family (M3, M4). The results obtained will enable the identification of the key descriptors of the catalytic properties of the solids, thus facilitating the rational design of optimized materials.