Photo-assisted thermal catalytic Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over Co–Cu/CeO2

Abstract

In this work, a photo-assisted thermal catalytic Fischer–Tropsch reaction over bimetallic Co–Cu/CeO₂ was constructed. It was found that alcohols can be produced under 3 MPa at 180 °C in the dark. Under light irradiation, the yield of alcohol increased 1.5 times, and the selectivity was maintained at the same temperature. Based on the XPS results, in situ H₂-pulse chemisorption and in situ diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), it is proposed that Co as an active site can adsorb CO catalysing hydrogenation reactions to produce alcohols. Under the irradiation, CeO₂ generates photo-generated electrons and transfers them to Co, so that the electron-rich density of Co facilitates the adsorption and activation of CO. Moreover, the light also induces Cu to produce localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and excite hot electrons, which promotes the dissociation of H₂ and the regeneration of oxygen vacancies on the CeO₂ surface. Both light-induced behaviors promote the Fischer–Tropsch reaction.