A high active sites exposed hollow Co@SiO2 nanoreactor for high performance fischer–tropsch synthesis

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 323; p. 124377
• Main Authors: Qin, Chuan, Bai, Jingyang, Xu, Yanfei, Du, Yixiong, Wang, Jungang, Ding, Mingyue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: A hollow structure; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemical synthesis; Co@SiO2; Cobalt; Core-shell structure; Fischer-Tropsch process; Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; High dispersion; Hydrocarbons; Intermediates; Long-chain hydrocarbons; Metal-organic frameworks; Nanoparticles; Selectivity; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; A hollow structure; Co@SiO2; High dispersion; Long-chain hydrocarbons
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.124377

[Display omitted] •A high active sites exposed hollow nanoreactor was synthesized for FTS.•High loading and dispersion of Co anchored inside the mesoporous hollow silica shell.•This structure increased the probability and contact time of reaction intermediates with Co.•Co@SiO2-3 exhibited a record-high FTS activity and C5+ selectivity of 93.3%. Optimizing catalyst geometry to break current limitations of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) activity and the selectivity of long-chain hydrocarbons is a promising and challenging subject. Herein, a hollow Co@SiO2 catalyst with high dispersion of cobalt species anchored inside mesoporous hollow silica shell was successfully synthesized with the help of Co-metal organic framework materials, which displayed a surprisingly high C5+ hydrocarbons selectivity of 93.3% with a low methane selectivity of 3.4% at a remarkable high activity (CTY = 5.1 × 10-5 molCO gCo-1 s−1). The catalyst remained excellent stability for 200 h under industrially relevant conditions. The hollow core–shell structure provided an internal cavity environment that shortened the diffusion distance and contact area between Co metal and support, and improved exposed active cobalt sites and residence time of intermediates, inducing the growth of the catalytic activity and long-chain hydrocarbons selectivity. Protection of silica shell prevented the aggregation of active cobalt nanoparticles, further promoting the catalyst stability. This work provides a new insight into the design of high efficient and stable catalysts for FTS reaction.