As fossil fuels continue to be consumed on a global scale, the concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere has increased significantly. To combat detrimental effects on the climate, techniques should be explored to cut emissions and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One promising technique is using catalysts to convert carbon dioxide to value-added chemicals. These chemicals, such as light olefins (ethylene and propylene), are used as building blocks for polymer and plastics that are currently produced from carbon dioxide-generating fossil resources. Much research effort has been placed in identifying catalysts that are efficient and specific to the reaction pathway resulting in the desired products. Our primary goal through this work is to design, synthesize, evaluate, and characterize a unique core-shell catalyst with optimal activity, selectivity, and stability for carbon dioxide hydrogenation to light olefins. Of 68 catalysts previously tested, the most promising is the carbon nanosphere encapsulated iron core-shell catalyst. The catalyst was prepared by polymerization of the iron precursor solution, followed by calcination and compression to uniform particle size. It was then tested under mild testing conditions (ambient pressure, temperature range of 250-350°C) and analyzed using an on-line gas chromatography. Results indicate that the carbon nanosphere encapsulated iron core-shell catalyst shows promise in its ability to selectively yield light olefins. Characterization of the catalyst using temperature programmed reduction investigated the active sites, but more characterization methods need to be completed to better understand the catalytic properties. This unique core-shell nanoreactor can provide an ideal and practical model system to explore the fundamentals of confined catalysis.

Catalytic CO<sub>2</sub> hydrogenation to light olefins over carbon nanosphere encapsulated Fe core-shell catalysts

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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Catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins over carbon nanosphere encapsulated Fe core-shell catalysts

Catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation to light olefins over carbon nanosphere encapsulated Fe core-shell catalysts