Superior Fischer-Tropsch performance of uniform cobalt nanoparticles deposited into mesoporous SiC

Abstract

Electrochemically-derived well-crystalline mesoporous silicon carbide (pSiC) was used as a host for cobalt nanoparticles to demonstrate superior catalytic performance during the CO hydrogenation according to Fischer-Tropsch. Colloidal Co nanoparticles (9 ± 0.4 nm) were prepared independently using colloidal recipes before incorporating them into pSiC and, for comparison purposes, into commercially available silica (Davisil) as well as foam-like MCF-17 supports. The Co/pSiC catalyst demonstrated the highest (per unit mass) catalytic activity of 117 μmolCO gCo−1 s−1 at 220 °C which was larger by about one order of magnitude as compared to both silica supported cobalt catalysts. Furthermore, a significantly higher C5+ hydrocarbons selectivity was observed for Co/pSiC. The stable performance of the catalyst is attributed to the high dispersion of the active phase and the use of pSiC acting as a thermally conductive and chemically inert mesoporous support.