The selective partial oxidation of light alkanes to value-added olefins or oxygenates is an efficient technology for feedstock upgrading. However, the intricate surface reaction networks 10 typically lead to product mixtures containing up to 20 different molecules, including undesirable by-products such as CO and CO2 . In order to selectively produce the olefins or the oxygenates, mixed-metal oxide or phosphate heterogeneous catalysts based on molybdenum and vanadium redox-active species have been used, such as the MoVTeNbOx and the state-of-the-art industrial catalyst for n-butane selective oxidation, vanadyl pyrophosphate. Several recent investigations have explored the catalytic activity of mixed-metal phosphates in a systematic way.