The study of morphology effect of Pt/Co3O4 catalysts for higher alcohol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation

Two kinds of Co3O4 with different morphologies (nanorods and naoplates) were used to support Pt nanoparticles to prepared Pt/Co3O4 catalysts. The properties of the nano-structured Co3O4 and Pt/Co3O4 were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, H-2-TPR and XPS techniques. The catalyst activity was studied in higher alcohol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation in fixed-bed reactor operated at 2 MPa and 190-230 degrees C. The catalyst gave a stable and relative higher CO2 conversion and alcohol selectivity during 50 h under mild reaction condition. The morphology of Co3O4 affected the catalyst's CO2 conversion and production selectivity. The active surface of Pt/Co3O4-p catalyst was high dispersed Pt and Co nanoparticles anchored on Co3O4 support with some oxygen vacancies, evidenced by XRD results. The highest space time yield of higher alcohol (0.56 mmol g(cnt)(-1) h(-1)) was achieved at 200 degrees C and 2 MPa for Pt/Co3O4-p catalyst.