https://www.cas.cn/cm/202604/t20260402_5105757.shtml
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10204-4
A research team led by Prof. SUN Jian from the CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) has proposed a hydroxyl-induced cobalt oxide catalytic strategy that enables the efficient conversion of syngas to light olefins through Fischer–Tropsch synthesis.
The researchers focused on the dynamic evolution of catalyst structures under reaction conditions. By introducing selected hydroxy-promoters into a sodium-cobalt-manganese catalyst system, they constructed a hydroxyl-rich reaction interface that induced the formation of low-symmetry, anorthic cobalt-manganese (Co-Mn) composite oxides, which were more active for CO activation than more symmetrical oxide structures. These oxide species were found to play a key role in promoting CO activation.
As a result, the catalyst achieved 70–82% CO conversion with light olefins selectivity exceeding 60% at 250–260 °C and 0.1 MPa, with H2/CO ratios ranging from 1 to 2—a range suitable for olefin production. The corresponding carbon utilization efficiency for light olefins reached up to 13%.
Structural characterizations and mechanistic studies revealed that hydroxyl promoters suppressed the excessive reduction and carburization of the catalyst, stabilizing the active oxide phase and facilitating hydrogen-assisted CO activation. Meanwhile, neighboring carbide-related sites contributed to subsequent C–C coupling, enabling efficient olefin formation.