Potassium and nickel doped β-Mo2C catalysts for mixed alcohols synthesis via syngas

Potassium and nickel doped β-Mo2C catalysts were prepared and their performances of CO hydrogenation were investigated. The main products over β-Mo2C catalyst were hydrocarbons, and only few alcohols were obtained. The potassium promoter resulted in remarkable selectivity shift from hydrocarbons to alcohols over β-Mo2C. Moreover, it was found that the potassium promoter enhanced the ability of chain propagation of β-Mo2C catalyst and resulted in a higher selectivity to C2+OH. When doped by potassium and nickel, β-Mo2C catalyst showed high activity and selectivity for mixed alcohols synthesis, the Ni promoter further enhanced the whole chain propagation to produce alcohols especially for the step of C1OH–C2OH. From the XPS analysis, it had been proved that the formation of higher alcohols might be attributable to the presence of MoIV species, whereas the formation of hydrocarbons was closely associated with the presence of MoII species on the surface of the catalysts.