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Engineering of Ruthenium–Iron Oxide Colloidal Heterostructures: Improved Yields in CO 2 Hydrogenation to Hydrocarbons
Author(s) -
Aitbekova Aisulu,
Goodman Emmett D.,
Wu Liheng,
Boubnov Alexey,
Hoffman Adam S.,
Genc Arda,
Cheng Huikai,
Casalena Lee,
Bare Simon R.,
Cargnello Matteo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201910579
Subject(s) - catalysis , ruthenium , hydrogen spillover , iron oxide , water gas shift reaction , hydrocarbon , oxide , hydrogen , chemical engineering , fischer–tropsch process , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , ruthenium oxide , colloid , reactivity (psychology) , materials science , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering , selectivity
Catalytic CO 2 reduction to fuels and chemicals is a major pursuit in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One approach utilizes the reverse water‐gas shift reaction, followed by Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, and iron is a well‐known candidate for this process. Some attempts have been made to modify and improve its reactivity, but resulted in limited success. Now, using ruthenium–iron oxide colloidal heterodimers, close contact between the two phases promotes the reduction of iron oxide via a proximal hydrogen spillover effect, leading to the formation of ruthenium–iron core–shell structures active for the reaction at significantly lower temperatures than in bare iron catalysts. Furthermore, by engineering the iron oxide shell thickness, a fourfold increase in hydrocarbon yield is achieved compared to the heterodimers. This work shows how rational design of colloidal heterostructures can result in materials with significantly improved catalytic performance in CO 2 conversion processes.