Iron oxide nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes: an efficient catalyst for water-gas shift reaction

In this study, the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) was investigated using a 3%FeO x /CNT catalyst prepared by depositing iron nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNT). The characteristics of the catalyst before and after WGSR were analyzed using Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which confirmed the structural stability of the nanocomposite during the reaction. The 3%FeO x /CNT catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity and long-term stability over a wide range of steam/CO ratios (5.50 : 1-1.38 : 1). At low CO concentrations, a broad temperature hysteresis was observed, which narrowed with increasing CO concentration. Decreasing the Fe loading further supported the narrowing of the hysteresis window. Our findings demonstrate that 3%FeO x /CNT outperforms non-promoted CNT-supported Pt- and Ni-based catalysts in terms of catalytic activity. These results suggest that nanocomposites of iron and carbon nanomaterials with low Fe loading are promising catalysts for WGSR. High catalytic performance and stability of 3%FeO x /CNT catalyst prepared by colloid deposition of FeO x on CNT in the high-temperature WGSR.