Tuning chemical environment and synergistic relay reaction to promote higher alcohols synthesis via syngas conversion

Higher alcohols synthesis (HAS) from syngas with high selectivity attracts great attention but remains challenging. Herein, we reported an effective strategy by tuning chemical environment and synergistic relay reaction to promote the production of higher alcohols. CO insertion rate was greatly enhanced by introducing Rh or Ru component to CoMn oxides. The catalytic activity and oxygenates selectivity increased dramatically over the as-obtained Rh-CoMn or Ru-CoMn catalyst, while the fraction of C2+OH in oxygenates maintained >92 %. Multiple studies demonstrated the highly dispersed Rhδ+ or Ruδ+ species not only effectively tuned the chemical environment and facilitated the stable existence of Co2C, but also catalyzed the coupling of syngas and in-situ generated olefins to produce extra oxygenates via hydroformylation route. The synergistic effect of Co0, Co2C and Rhδ+ (or Ruδ+) species, as well as the promotional effect of olefins relay reaction contributed to the enhancement in both higher alcohols selectivity and CO conversion.