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

Abstract

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.