Potassium and nickel doped β-Mo2C catalysts for mixed alcohols synthesis via syngas

Potassium and nickel doped beta-Mo2C catalysts were prepared and their performances of CO hydrogenation were investigated. The main products over beta-Mo2C catalyst were hydrocarbons, and only few alcohols were obtained. The potassium promoter resulted in remarkable selectivity shift from hydrocarbons to alcohols over beta-Mo2C. Moreover, it was found that the potassium promoter enhanced the ability of chain propagation of beta-Mo2C catalyst and resulted in a higher selectivity to C2+OH. When doped by potassium and nickel, beta-Mo2C catalyst showed high activity and selectivity for mixed alcohols synthesis, the Ni promoter further enhanced the whole chain propagation to produce alcohols especially for the step of C1OH-C2OH. From the XPS analysis, it had been proved that the formation of higher alcohols might be attributable to the presence of Mo-IV species, whereas the formation of hydrocarbons was closely associated with the presence of Mo-II species on the surface of the catalysts. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.