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Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Containing Nanoparticles on Alumina A Potential Catalyst for Gas to Liquid Fuels ProductionFisher-Tröpsch synthesis (FTS) is a century-old gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology that commonly employs cobalt (Co, on an oxide support) or iron (supported or not) species catalysts. It has been well established that the activity of the Co catalyst depends directly upon the number of surface Co atoms. The addition of promoter (mainly noble) metals has been widely utilized to increase the fraction of Co that is available for surface catalysis. Direct synthesis of Co nanoparticles is a possible alternative approach; our preliminary synthesis and characterization efforts are described. Materials were characterized by various transmission microscopies and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and dicobalt octacarbonyl were heated under argon to a temperature of 180 deg with constant stirring for 1 hr. Quenching the reaction in toluene produced Co-containing nanoparticles with a diameter of 5 to 10 nm. Alternatively, an alumina support (SBA-200 Al2O3) was added; the reaction was further stirred and the temperature was decreased to 140 deg to reduce the rate of further growth/ripening of the nucleated Co nanoparticles. A typical size of Co-containing NPs was also found to be in the range of 5 to 10 nm. This can be contrasted with a range of 50 to 200 nm for conventionally-produced Co-Al2O3 Fischer-Tröpsch catalysts. This method shows great potential for production of highly dispersed catalysts that are either supported or unsupported.
Document ID
20160011333
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Cowen, Jonathan (Case Western Reserve Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Hepp, Aloysius F. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 16, 2016
Publication Date
September 1, 2016
Subject Category
Chemistry And Materials (General)
Inorganic, Organic And Physical Chemistry
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2016-219138
E-19262
GRC-E-DAA-TN33754
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 295670.01.04.56
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
aluminum oxides
nanoparticles
transmission electron microscopy
phosphines
catalysts
cobalt

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