Freeze-drying for controlled nanoparticle distribution in Co/SiO2 Fischer-Tropsch catalysts

► Cobalt nanoparticle distribution on a commercial silica gel was manipulated. ► Freeze-drying parameters were established using differential scanning calorimetry. ► Conventional drying led to 10-400 nm clusters of 6-8 nm Co3O4 nanoparticles. ► Uniformly distributed 4-7 nm nanoparticles were obtained by freeze-drying. ► Model systems synthesized for deactivation studies for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction.