Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 68: 366-375.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(24)60188-9

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The electronic interaction of encapsulating graphene layers with FeCo alloy promotes efficient CO2 Hydrogenation to light olefins

Miao Zhanga, Limin Zhanga, Mingrui Wanga, Guanghui Zhanga,*(), Chunshan Songa,b, Xinwen Guoa,*()   

  1. aState Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontier Science Center for Smart Materials, PSU-DUT Joint Center for Energy Research, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China
    bDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
  • Received:2024-08-31 Accepted:2024-10-30 Online:2025-01-18 Published:2025-01-02
  • Contact: * E-mail: gzhang@dlut.edu.cn (G. Zhang),guoxw@dlut.edu.cn (X. Guo).
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22372022);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22102016);Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022A01002-1);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT22LAB602);Liaoning Revitalization Talent Program(XLYC2203126);CUHK Research Startup Fund(4930981)

Abstract:

CO2 hydrogenation to value-added light olefins (C2-4=) is crucial for the utilization and cycling of global carbon resource. Moderate CO2 activation and carbon chain growth ability are key factors for iron-based catalysts for efficient CO2 conversion to target C2-4= products. The electronic interaction and confinement effect of electron-deficient graphene inner surface on the active phase are effective to improve surface chemical properties and enhance the catalytic performance. Here, we report a core-shell FeCo alloy catalyst with graphene layers confinement prepared by a simple sol-gel method. The electron transfer from Fe species to curved graphene inner surface modifies the surface electronic structure of the active phase χ-(FexCo1-x)5C2 and improves CO2 adsorption capacity, enhancing the efficient conversion of CO2 and moderate C-C coupling. Therefore, the catalyst FeCoK@C exhibits C2-4= selectivity of 33.0% while maintaining high CO2 conversion of 52.0%. The high stability without obvious deactivation for over 100 h and unprecedented C2-4= space time yield (STY) up to 52.9 mmolCO2·g-1·h-1 demonstrate its potential for practical application. This work provides an efficient strategy for the development of high-performance CO2 hydrogenation catalysts.

Key words: CO2 hydrogenation, Light olefins, Graphene layers, Cobalt-iron alloy carbide, Electronic interaction