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Polyol Synthesis of Cobalt–Copper Alloy Catalysts for Higher Alcohol Synthesis from Syngas

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Abstract

Novel catalysts for the selective production of higher alcohols from syngas could offer improved pathways towards synthetic fuels and chemicals. Cobalt–copper alloy catalysts have shown promising results for this reaction. To improve control over particle properties, a liquid phase nanoparticle synthesis based on the polyol method was selected to synthesize Co2.5Cu particles, which were then supported onto a variety of metal oxide supports (Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2). The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy before and after catalytic testing in a flow reactor at 250 °C and 40 bar. The results show alloyed phases were obtained using the polyol method, resulting in selectivity towards higher alcohols, as high as 11.3% when supported on alumina. Segregation of cobalt and the formation of cobalt carbide were observed in the catalysts after catalytic testing, which may limit performance compared to the desired alloy phase.

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Acknowledgements

Primary support by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences to the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis is gratefully acknowledged. Support for Laiza V.P. Mendes was provided by the Capes Foundation and Science without Borders Program (Brazil). Support for Jonathan L. Snider was provided by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE-114747. Sample characterization (TEM, XRD, and XPS) was performed at the Stanford Nano Shared Facilities (SNSF) at Stanford University, supported by the National Science Foundation under award ECCS-1542152.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

      Laiza V. P. Mendes, Jonathan L. Snider, Samuel D. Fleischman, Jakob Kibsgaard, Joshua M. McEnaney & Thomas F. Jaramillo

    2. School of Chemistry, GreenTec Laboratory, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

      Laiza V. P. Mendes & Donato A. G. Aranda

    3. SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

      Jonathan L. Snider, Samuel D. Fleischman, Jakob Kibsgaard & Thomas F. Jaramillo

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    1. Laiza V. P. Mendes
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    2. Jonathan L. Snider
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    Correspondence to Thomas F. Jaramillo.

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    Laiza V.P. Mendes and Jonathan L. Snider have contributed equally to this work.

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    Mendes, L.V.P., Snider, J.L., Fleischman, S.D. et al. Polyol Synthesis of Cobalt–Copper Alloy Catalysts for Higher Alcohol Synthesis from Syngas. Catal Lett 147, 2352–2359 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-017-2130-5

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