Dynamic evolution of higher alcohols from CO₂ on Fe₃O₄-Fe₅C₂-Cu catalytic interfaces with amorphous Ti layout

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Selective alcohol synthesis from carbon feedstocks is challenging due to complex reaction pathways.
• Developing efficient catalysts for higher alcohols is crucial for sustainable chemical production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel catalyst for selective higher alcohols synthesis.
• To investigate the structure-activity relationship of the catalyst.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of FeTiOₓ catalyst via high-temperature calcination.
• Tuning copper (Cu) dispersion on the FeTiOₓ framework.
• Operando X-ray diffraction and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) for in-situ analysis.

Main Results:

• FeTiOₓ catalyst exhibits intrinsic preference for higher alcohols.
• Optimized Cu dispersion enhances higher alcohols selectivity to 30.2% with 42.5% CO₂ conversion.
• Real-time monitoring revealed catalyst phase evolution (Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ → Fe₅C₂) and key intermediates (CO*, CHₓ*, CH₃CH₂O*).

Conclusions:

• The FeTiOₓ catalyst demonstrates structural adaptability and effective regulation of reaction intermediates.
• Phase-structure engineering is vital for designing efficient iron-based catalysts for selective higher alcohols synthesis.
• This work provides a promising strategy for the efficient synthesis of higher alcohols.