Photo-Driven Syngas Conversion to Lower Olefins over Oxygen-Decorated Fe₅C₂ Catalyst

Photo-driven CO hydrogenation reaction toward the formation of olefins was realized over Fe₅C₂ catalyst under photo-irradiation. Comprehensive catalyst characterization studies show that under mild reaction conditions, the Fe₅C₂ catalyst undergoes a surface reconstruction, forming an oxygen-decorated Fe₅C₂ surface that is prone to the formation of olefins in photo-driven Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that a small number of O atoms adsorbed on the Fe₅C₂ surface can promote the desorption of olefin, which plays an important role in tuning the production of this value-added product. The current work extends the knowledge of Fe-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst and process under external field.