Self-optimized and renewable Ni–Co alloy@Co–Co2C catalyst for higher alcohols synthesis from syngas

Abstract

Higher alcohols synthesis (HAS) from syngas (CO/H2) has attracted widespread attention, while the low selectivity and poor stability of the catalysts mainly stumbled its industrial application. In the work, Ni–Co alloy nanoparticles (NPs) derived from Co1-xNixAl2O4 loaded on the SiO2 with large specific surface area were prepared; and during reaction, the highly dispersed Ni–Co alloys were self-optimized to Ni–Co alloy@Co–Co2C. Importantly, Ni–Co alloy@Co–Co2C can be regenerated through oxidation - reduction - self-optimization process. Characteristic results indicated that the structural liberalization during the reaction process inhibited the loss of Ni, regulated and balanced the dual active sites of the catalyst and the Ni–Co alloys were regenerated after the re-oxidation and re-reduction process. The optimized catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance, including a high total selectivity to alcohols of 39.3% and an excellent catalytic stability at 250 °C, 3.5 MPa (H2/CO = 2) and a space velocity of 6000 mL (gcat h)−1. In addition, the Ni–Co alloy@Co–Co2C catalyst after stability test could recover its original catalytic performance after re-oxidation and re-reduction. The renewable characteristics and superior catalytic performance of Ni–Co alloy@Co–Co2C made the catalyst to be one of the potential industrial catalysts for HAS.