Synthesis of iron nanoparticles in water-in-oil microemulsions for liquid-phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in polyethylene glycol

► Size-and-morphology control of nanoparticles was achieved by microemulsion technique. ► Nanoparticles with spherical and rod-like shapes were displayed high FTS activity. ► Using PEG as the solvent for FTS simplified product/catalyst separation.