Mesoporous Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Decorated Graphene Oxide Catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

Hierarchically mesoporous iron oxide/graphene oxide (GO) composites have been synthesized by a facile, one-step hydrothermal method and utilized as Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts. The catalysts show intriguing hierarchical pore structure with a large surface area, a high porosity, weaker Fe–GO interaction, easier reduction, and carburization behaviors. The presence of hierarchical pore structure increases the number of catalytic active sites and promotes the mass transfer of reactants and products. Consequently, a high CO conversion (83–90%), a high C5+ selectivity (67–71%), and a high olefin:paraffin ratio (4.9–5.5) of the catalysts are achieved. This study highlights the advantage of the hierarchical pore structure of FTS catalysts.