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Conversion of CO2 to Light Hydrocarbons by Using FeCx Catalysts Derived from Iron Nitrate Co-pyrolyzing with Melamine, Bulk g-C3N4, or Defective g-C3N4

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Abstract

FeCx catalysts (Fe-CN-Py) were synthesized by co-pyrolyzing the mixture of iron nitrate and a CN source (melamine, bulk g-C3N4 (b-C3N4), or defective g-C3N4 (d-C3N4)). The physicochemical properties of Fe-CN-Py catalysts and their activities of CO2 hydrogenation to light hydrocarbon (C2-C6) were analyzed. The results indicated that Fe-d-C3N4-(0.3)-Py is the most promising with the highest CO2 conversion (47.2%), olefin yield (10.8%), and olefin space-time yield (STY = 4.5 µmol olefin/s/gFe). The promising activity of Fe-d-C3N4-(0.3)-Py was attributed to its high concentration of surface FeCx. The correlation between surface FeCx and the STY of hydrocarbons and olefins was established.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Projects 109-2628-E-006-011-MY3, 110-2221-E-006-165-MY3, 110-2923-E-006-005-MY3, and 110-2927-I-006-506) and the Higher Education Sprout Project, Ministry of Education to the Headquarters of University Advancement at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). The authors also appreciate the use of an elemental analyzer (EA000600, MOST 110-2731-M-006-001) belonging to the Core Facility Center of National Cheng Kung University. English language editing by Ms. Jedy Prameswari was appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, 70101, Tainan, Taiwan

    Dien-Thien To & Yu-Chuan Lin

  2. Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center (NANOCAT), Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Joon Ching Juan

  3. National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, 101 Hsin-Ann Rd, 30076, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Meng-Hsuan Tsai, Chia-Hsin Wang, Chih-Wen Pao & Chi-Liang Chen

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DTT: Data curation; JCJ: Resources; MHT: Data curation; CHW: Data analysis and investigation; CWP: Resources and investigation; CLC: Resources, reviwing, and consulting; YCL: Resources, writing, reviewing and editing.

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To, DT., Juan, J.C., Tsai, MH. et al. Conversion of CO2 to Light Hydrocarbons by Using FeCx Catalysts Derived from Iron Nitrate Co-pyrolyzing with Melamine, Bulk g-C3N4, or Defective g-C3N4. Catal Surv Asia 27, 260–269 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10563-023-09391-1

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