Lignin based synthesis of graphitic carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles as effective catalyst for forming lower olefins via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Graphitic-carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles were prepared from anti-programmed temperature flash pyrolysis, in which bio-renewable lignin and ferric nitrate were used as precursors. The resulting iron nanoparticles contain 9-nm-diameter metal cores that are wrapped in a few layers of graphitic carbon. Due to the peculiar structural characteristics, the Fe@C catalyst shows desirable selectivity of 52.4% to C2C4 olefins and high stability in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. All the experimental data indicate this unique structure provides an excellent confinement effect and prevents nanoparticle aggregation during the catalysis.