Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic Fe/Co nanocatalyst on CNTs for Fischer-Tropsch reaction

Cobalt and iron are common catalysts used in Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction. This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of monometallic and bimetallic cobalt and iron nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs-supported nanocatalysts were synthesized by wet impregnation method at various ratios of Fe:Co. The physicochemical properties of the samples were analyzed by H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR), CO and H2-chemisorption analyses, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The effects of incorporation of Fe into Co on the physicochemical properties of Co/CNTs in terms of degree of reduction, CO and H2 chemisorptions and morphologies were investigated. TEM showed that metal nanoparticles were well dispersed on the external surface and inside the CNTs. For monometallic Co/CNTs and Fe/CNTs, the average metal particle size was 5±1 nm and 6±1 nm, respectively. For the bimetallic 70Co30Fe/CNTs nanocatalysts, the average particle size was found to be 4±1 nm. Metal particles attached to the outer walls were bigger than the ones inside the CNTs. H2-TPR analysis of Co/CNTs indicated two temperature regions at 330◦C (low temperature) and 491◦C (high temperature). The incorporation of iron into cobalt nanocatalysts of up to 30 % of the total metal loading enhanced the catalyst’s H2 and CO chemisorptions capacities and reducibility.