Co–Fe Nanoparticles Wrapped on N-Doped Graphitic Carbons as Highly Selective CO2 Methanation Catalysts

Pyrolysis of chitosan containing various loadings of Co and Fe renders Co-Fe alloy nanoparticles supported on N-doped graphitic carbon. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that the surface of Co-Fe NPs is partially covered by three or four graphene layers. These Co-Fe@(N)C samples catalyze the Sabatier CO2 hydrogenation, increasing the activity and CH4 selectivity with the reaction temperature in the range of 300-500 °C. Under optimal conditions, a CH4 selectivity of 91% at an 87% CO2 conversion was reached at 500 °C and a space velocity of 75 h-1 under 10 bar. The Co-Fe alloy nanoparticles supported on N-doped graphitic carbon are remarkably stable and behave differently as an analogous Co-Fe catalyst supported on TiO2.