Bridging the pressure and material gap in heterogeneous catalysis: cobalt Fischer–Tropsch catalysts from surface science to industrial application

The Fischer–Tropsch (FT) process is the heart of many natural gas conversion processes as it enables the conversion of a mixture of CO and H₂ into valuable long-chain hydrocarbons. Here we report on the use of state-of-the-art surface science techniques to obtain information on the relationship between the surface atomic structure of model catalysts and their performance in the Fischer–Tropsch reaction. Cobalt single crystals and polycrystals were modified with non-reducible oxides as to resemble industrial catalysts. Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy was used for examining the CO adsorption behaviour at room temperature as well as at 493 K at CO pressures spanning 10⁻⁷ to 300 mbar on both (modified) Co single/polycrystals and an industrial catalyst. Polarization modulation was applied to cancel the CO gas phase absorption. Subsequently, they were subjected to reaction tests in the same apparatus at 1 bar and 493 K. This allowed us to close the material, pressure and instrument gap in the field of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis on cobalt-based catalysts.