Hyperactive iron carbide@N-doped reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotube hybrid architecture for rapid CO hydrogenation

Abstract

A hierarchical architecture designated as Fe₅C₂@Ns-rGO/CNT, consisting of carbon nanotubes, steam activated N-doped reduced graphene oxides, and activated iron carbide nanoparticles, was prepared via microwave irradiation and subsequent CO activation. The Fe₅C₂@Ns-rGO/CNT was successfully applied to a rapid CO hydrogenation reaction showing extremely high activity of 4.4 × 10⁻³ mol_CO g_Fe⁻¹ s⁻¹ at a fast gas velocity of 210 NL g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹.