Recent advances in Co 2 C-based nanocatalysts for direct production of olefins from syngas conversion.

Syngas conversion provides an important platform for efficient utilization of various carbon-containing resources such as coal, natural gas, biomass, solid waste and even CO 2 . Various value-added fuels and chemicals including paraffins, olefins and alcohols can be directly obtained from syngas conversion via the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) route. However, the product selectivity control still remains a grand challenge for FTS due to the limitation of Anderson-Schulz-Flory (ASF) distribution. Our previous works showed that, under moderate reaction conditions, Co 2 C nanoprisms with exposed (101) and (020) facets can directly convert syngas to olefins with low methane and high olefin selectivity, breaking the limitation of ASF. The application of Co 2 C-based nanocatalysts unlocks the potential of the Fischer-Tropsch process for producing olefins. In this feature article, we summarized the recent advances in developing highly efficient Co 2 C-based nanocatalysts and reaction pathways for direct syngas conversion to olefins via the Fischer-Tropsch to olefin (FTO) reaction. We mainly focused on the following aspects: the formation mechanism of Co 2 C, nanoeffects of Co 2 C-based FTO catalysts, morphology control of Co 2 C nanostructures, and the effects of promoters, supports and reactors on the catalytic performance. From the viewpoint of carbon utilization efficiency, we presented the recent efforts in decreasing the CO 2 selectivity for FTO reactions. In addition, the attempt to expand the target products to aromatics by coupling Co 2 C-based FTO catalysts and H-ZSM-5 zeolites was also made. In the end, future prospects for Co 2 C-based nanocatalysts for selective syngas conversion were proposed.