Stabilization of ε-iron carbide as high-temperature catalyst under realistic Fischer–Tropsch synthesis conditions

Shuai Lyu, Li Wang (), Zhe Li, Shukun Yin, Jie Chen, Yuhua Zhang, Jinlin Li () and Ye Wang ()
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Shuai Lyu: South-Central University for Nationalities
Li Wang: South-Central University for Nationalities
Zhe Li: South-Central University for Nationalities
Shukun Yin: South-Central University for Nationalities
Jie Chen: South-Central University for Nationalities
Yuhua Zhang: South-Central University for Nationalities
Jinlin Li: South-Central University for Nationalities
Ye Wang: Xiamen University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The development of efficient catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis, a core reaction in the utilization of non-petroleum carbon resources to supply energy and chemicals, has attracted much recent attention. ε-Iron carbide (ε-Fe2C) was proposed as the most active iron phase for FT synthesis, but this phase is generally unstable under realistic FT reaction conditions (> 523 K). Here, we succeed in stabilizing pure-phase ε-Fe2C nanocrystals by confining them into graphene layers and obtain an iron-time yield of 1258 μmolCO gFe−1s−1 under realistic FT synthesis conditions, one order of magnitude higher than that of the conventional carbon-supported Fe catalyst. The ε-Fe2C@graphene catalyst is stable at least for 400 h under high-temperature conditions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the feasible formation of ε-Fe2C by carburization of α-Fe precursor through interfacial interactions of ε-Fe2C@graphene. This work provides a promising strategy to design highly active and stable Fe-based FT catalysts.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20068-5

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