Cobalt Catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch-Synthesis: Systematic Studies on Carbon Support Effects on Catalyst Activity and Deactivation

Cobalt supported on heteroatom-doped carbon has been found to be an attractive class of catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch-Synthesis (FTS). However, due to often ill-defined Co/C catalysts, the exact interactions between heteroatoms such as N, S or P incorporated into the carbon support on the active cobalt phase and thus on catalyst performance and deactivation remain opaque. By combining a specifically developed heteroatom doping approach with a literature-proven colloidal Co nanoparticle (NP) synthesis, we prepared a series of well-defined and highly comparable doped (N, S, P) and non-doped carbon supported Co model catalysts, that we aim to utilize to gain insights on metal-support interactions during FTS. Thus, combined operando XRD and XAS studies will be conducted to determine the influence of N, S and P doping on the chemical state, phase (fcc/hcp ratio) and dispersion of Co NP during reduction and longer periods on stream under industrial relevant FTS conditions.