Highly Selective Olefin Production from CO Hydrogenation on Iron Catalysts: A Subtle Synergy between Manganese and Sodium Additives.

Mn and Na additives have been widely studied to improve the efficiency of CO hydrogenation to valuable olefins on Fe catalysts, but their effects on the catalytic properties and mechanism are still under vigorous debate. This study shows that Fe-based catalysts with moderate Mn and Na contents are highly selective for CO hydrogenation to olefins, together with low selectivities for both CO and CH and much improved space-time olefin yields compared to state-of-the-art catalysts. Combined kinetic assessment and quasi in situ characterizations further unveil that the sole presence of Mn suppresses the activity of Fe catalysts because of the close contact between Fe and Mn, whereas the introduction of Na mediates the Fe-Mn interaction and provides strong basic sites. This subtle synergy between Na and Mn sheds light on the importance of the interplay of multiple additives that could bring an enabling strategy to improve catalytic activity and selectivity.