Role of CoO-Co nanoparticles supported on SiO2 in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Evidence for enhanced CO dissociation and olefin hydrogenation

Abstract The role of mixed CoO-Co nanoparticles dispersed on a SiO2 support for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) has been evaluated. The multiphase CoO-Co/SiO2 demonstrated high activity for the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction, water-gas shift (WGS) and hydrogenation reactions. The results were the experimental evidence that the CoO-Co interface assisted both the activation of CO and the hydrogenation of R-CHx intermediates. A new mechanism, “CoO-Co H-assisted CO dissociation”, was hypothesized to explain the high CO reactivity and selectivity to linear paraffinic products. The synergistic effect between CoO and Co° promotes the FT activity, which provides the valuable information for the design of the commercial FT cobalt-based catalysts.