Studies of Cobalt Particle Size Effects on Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis over Core–Shell‐Structured Catalysts

A series of core–shell-structured catalysts that consist of different-sized Co3O4 nano-particles and silica shells were prepared by an in situ coating method. The reduced catalysts displayed uniform core sizes that ranged from 5.5–12.7 nm as ascertained by TEM, which concurred well with XRD analysis. The BET results revealed the highly mesoporous nature of the silica shell, which contributes to the facile access of the reactant gas to the active sites on the core particles. The degree of reduction of the calcined catalysts studied by H2 temperature-programmed reduction was enhanced with increased Co particle size. In the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, a volcano-like curve was plotted as the CO conversion and Co-time-yield revealed a rapid growth if the particle size increased from 5.5 to 8.7 nm and then decreased with further increased particle size to 12.7 nm, which is an effect of the combination of Co dispersion and reducibility. However, the turnover frequency remained invariant for catalysts with particle sizes larger than 8.7 nm. If we consider the product selectivity, generally, larger particles led to a longer chain length of hydrocarbons with a larger chain-growth probability. The selectivity towards methane decreased and the corresponding heavy hydrocarbons (C19+) increased continuously with the increase of particle size. The catalyst with a particle size of 8.7 nm exhibited the highest selectivity and the maximum space-time-yield towards middle distillates (C5–C18) because of the modest chain-growth probability.