In situ spectroscopies and scanning tunneling microscopy(STM) are used to study elementary steps in Fischer-Tropsch reactions,concentrating on CO hydrogenation on Co and Co-Cu foils, as referencematerials, and on nanoparticles as a function of size, from 2 to 10 nm andabove. In situ x-ray absorption (XAS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) reveal that during reaction conditions of 1 atmosphere of CO + H2, the Cooxide of the original sample is reduced by reaction with H2.  In situ XPS at the much lower pressure of 1Torr, shows the conversion of chemisorbed CO into CHx species as well as theformation of Co carbide when the temperature reaches 250 C.  Single crystals of Cu with evaporated layersof Co are used as model systems to learn about the structure of chemisorbed COon the alloy system using STM.

Insights into the elementary steps of Fischer-Tropsch reactions on cobalt and cobalt copper alloys

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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