In Situ XRD Study on Stability and Performance of Co3C Catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

Cobalt carbides have been recognized as an active phase for the production of light olefins and alcohols in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. In this study, in situ X-ray diffraction experiments were performed to investigate the stability and catalytic performance over a single-phase Co3C catalyst under reaction conditions. The in situ X-ray diffraction results indicated that the Co3C phase remained stable with no significant changes until the temperature reached 300 °C. The high stability can be attributed to the twinning structure of the single-phase Co3C catalyst. The catalytic evaluation results showed that the single-phase Co3C catalyst had higher activity with high selectivity to long-chain products due to the unique surface structure of Co3C. This work provides guidance for the rational design of efficient cobalt carbide catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis reactions.