PNNL

Abstract

Electrochemically-derived well-crystalline mesoporous silicon carbide (pSiC) was used to host cobalt nanoparticles and to show superior catalytic performance during the CO hydrogenation according to Fischer-Tropsch. Colloidal metal particles (9 ± 0.4 nm) were prepared independently before depositing them into pSiC and, for comparison purposes, into commercially available silica (Davisil) and foam-like MCF-17 supports. The Co/pSiC catalyst demonstrated the highest catalytic activity of 117 ?molCO gCo-1 s-1 at 220 °C in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, while the silica supported cobalt samples showed about one order of magnitude less activity. A significant increase in the C5+ hydrocarbons selectivity for Co/pSiC was observed. The stable performance of the catalyst is attributed to the high dispersion of the active phase and the use of silicon carbide acting as a thermally conductive and chemically inert porous support.