Carbon-encapsulated metallic Co nanoparticles for Fischer-Tropsch to olefins with low CO2 selectivity

Tuning Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products of metallic Co-based catalysts from paraffins to value-added olefins chemicals attracts great attention but remains challenging. Herein, we succeed in designing the carbon layers confined cobalt metal core-shell nanocatalyst (Co@C) via a reduction-carburization-pyrolysis (RCP) pretreatment of Co/SiO2, which exhibits highly efficient for Fischer-Tropsch to olefins (FTO) with negligible Water-GasShift activity. At 250 degrees C and 5 bar, 56.4 % of olefins selectivity and limited CO2 selectivity (5.8 %) are achieved for Mn-promoted Co@C nanocatalyst with at least 200 h of stability running. The electronic effect of carbon layers and Mn promoter as well as the confinement structure tailor the local chemical environment and weaken the hydrogenation ability of Co metal sites, thus improving the selectivity toward olefins while largely reducing the formation of CH4 and CO2. This work develops an effective strategy for the rational design of highly active and stable metallic Co-based FTO catalysts with high carbon efficiency.

Automated summary

By designing carbon layers confined cobalt metal core-shell nanocatalyst, this study achieves highly selective Fischer-Tropsch to olefins synthesis with good stability and reduced CH4 and CO2 formation.