Mesoporous Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Decorated Graphene Oxide Catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

Hierarchically mesoporous iron oxide/graphene oxide (GO) composites have been synthesized by a facile, one-step hydrothermal method and utilized as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts. The catalysts show intriguing hierarchical pore structure with a large surface area, a high porosity, weaker Fe-GO interaction, easier reduction, and carburization behaviors. The presence of hierarchical pore structure increases the number of catalytic active sites and promotes the mass transfer of reactants and products. Consequently, a high CO conversion (83-90%), a high C5+ selectivity (67-71%), and a high olefin:paraffin ratio (4.9-5.5) of the catalysts are achieved. This study highlights the advantage of the hierarchical pore structure of FTS catalysts.