BCN‐Supported CoFe Alloy Catalysts for Enhanced C─C Coupling in Photothermocatalytic CO Hydrogenation

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2024-10, Vol.34 (40), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Hao, Quanguo, Li, Zhenhua, Zhu, Yuhua, Shi, Yiqiu, Huo, Mengge, Yuan, Hong, Ouyang, Shuxin, Zhang, Tierui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atomic structure; Carbon monoxide; Catalysts; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; CoFe alloy catalyst; Coupling; C─C coupling; electron transfer; Electronic structure; Fischer-Tropsch process; Fischer–Tropsch synthesis; Hydrogenation; Iron; Light irradiation; photothermocatalysis; Transition metal alloys; Transition metals
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202403848

The high selectivity of C─C coupling reactions in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is often limited due to the difficulty in the regulation of transition metals acting as active sites to balance between C─C chain propagation and over hydrogenation. Herein, BCN‐supported CoFe alloy catalyst has been successfully constructed for promoting C─C chain propagation. When exposed to light irradiation, the CoFe‐BCN catalyst exhibits a higher CO conversion of 18.4% with the enhanced selectivity toward multi‐carbon (C2+) hydrocarbons that increases from 22.4% to 64.1%, and the reduced over hydrogenation to CH4 that decreases from 74.8% to 25.4% in contrast to Co‐BCN catalyst. Structural characterizations indicate that introducing Fe to create CoFe alloy can decrease the d‐band center of Co, which significantly promotes C─C coupling reactions but weakens hydrogenation in FTS process. The findings underscore the potential of modifying catalysts with metal atoms to optimize their electronic structure to regulate reaction pathways in CO hydrogenation for high‐value products formation. A metal‐modification approach is developed to synthesize BCN‐supported CoFe alloy catalysts. The introduction of Fe to create CoFe alloy decreases the d‐band center of metallic Co, leading to a significant enhancement in C─C coupling reactions that increases from 22.4% to 64.1% while reducing hydrogenation that decreases from 74.8% to 25.4% in contrast to Co‐BCN catalyst in the FTS process.