Solvothermally derived Co3O4@m-SiO2 nanocomposites for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Monodispersible Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared via a facile solvothermal route using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the capping agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) results, together with the N-2 physisorption, indicated that those as-made Co3O4 nanoparticles of about 17 nm could be used as cores to prepare core@shell nanocomposites with mesoporous silica shell. Such monodispersible Co3O4 nanoparticles were observed to be coated completely by mesoporous silica shell, and showed the higher catalytic activity and selectivity towards C-5-C-18 fraction than Co/mesoporous SiO2 (Co/m-SiO2) in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.