The effect of different solvents on graphene supported cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalyst

Graphene supported Fischer-Tropsch cobalt catalysts are prepared via hydrothermal synthesis, and the effect of different solvents, water and ethanol used in the preparation on the structure and catalyst activity are discussed. The catalysts are characterized by differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTA), nitrogen physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum, hydrogen-temperature program reduction (H2-TPR), ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the catalyst prepared using ethanol as a solvent in a fixed-bed shows better thermostability, lower reduction temperature, smaller crystallite of Co3O4 and relatively narrower and more uniform distribution of Co3O4 crystallite than that prepared in water. The catalyst prepared using ethanol as a solvent exhibits a higher CO conversion and higher C5+ selectivity.