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Capturing the Genesis of an Active Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Catalyst with Operando X‐ray Nanospectroscopy
Author(s) -
van Ravenhorst Ilse K.,
Vogt Charlotte,
Oosterbeek Heiko,
Bossers Koen W.,
MoyaCancino José G.,
van Bavel Alexander P.,
van der Eerden Ad M. J.,
Vine David,
de Groot Frank M. F.,
Meirer Florian,
Weckhuysen Bert M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201806354
Subject(s) - fischer–tropsch process , catalysis , hydrocarbon , valence (chemistry) , saturation (graph theory) , chemical engineering , materials science , chemistry , organic chemistry , mathematics , combinatorics , engineering , selectivity
A state‐of‐the‐art operando spectroscopic technique is applied to Co/TiO 2 catalysts, which account for nearly half of the world's transportation fuels produced by Fischer–Tropsch catalysis. This allows determination of, at a spatial resolution of approximately 50 nm, the interdependence of formed hydrocarbon species in the inorganic catalyst. Observed trends show intra‐ and interparticular heterogeneities previously believed not to occur in particles under 200 μm. These heterogeneities are strongly dependent on changes in H 2 /CO ratio, but also on changes thereby induced on the Co and Ti valence states. We have captured the genesis of an active FTS particle over its propagation to steady‐state operation, in which microgradients lead to the gradual saturation of the Co/TiO 2 catalyst surface with long chain hydrocarbons (i.e., organic film formation).