Extremely productive iron-carbide nanoparticles on graphene flakes for CO hydrogenation reactions under harsh conditions

• Published in: Journal of catalysis 2019-10, Vol.378, p.289-297
• Main Authors: Lee, Hack-Keun, Lee, Jin Hee, Seo, Jong Hyuk, Chun, Dong Hyun, Kang, Shin Wook, Lee, Dong Wook, Yang, Jung-Il, Rhim, Geun Bae, Youn, Min Hye, Jeong, Heon-Do, Jung, Heon, Park, Ji Chan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CO hydrogenation; Graphene flake; High metal load; Iron-carbide; Melt-infiltration
• ISSN: 0021-9517; 1090-2694
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2019.09.004

Highly active and productive Fe5C2/G nanoparticles on graphene flakes, prepared via a melt- infiltration of Fe salts and thermal reduction under CO flow, show excellent catalytic performance with extremely high productivity for valuable hydrocarbons as well as good thermal stability in the harsh CO hydrogenation reactions. [Display omitted] •Fe5C2/G nanocatalyst (Fe load ∼35 wt%) was made for harsh CO hydrogenation reactions.•Fe5C2 nanoparticles were dispersed on graphene flakes using melt-infiltration.•Fe5C2/G showed very high FT activity and CO conversion at high space velocity.•This highly productive nanocatalyst is a new option for commercial CO hydrogenation reaction. For the highly productive nanocatalyst synthesis, ensuring the formation and stabilization of active nanoparticles with enlarged surface areas by increasing their metal loading and dispersion have been major issues. Herein, we report a facile method based on a simple melt-infiltration process for creating extremely productive Fe5C2 nanoparticles (∼14 nm) incorporated into graphene flakes (Fe5C2/G) with a stable and high Fe load (∼35 wt%). They showed extremely high C5+ hydrocarbon productivity (4.41 gC5+HC gcat−1 h−1), CO conversion (91.8%), and Fe time yield (6.5 × 10−4 molCO gFe−1 s−1) as well as good thermal stability in CO hydrogenation reactions under harsh conditions.