Novel Method for Preparing a Carbon Nanotube-Supported Cobalt Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Hydrogen Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Plasma

Hydrogen dielectric-barrier discharge (H2-DBD) plasma was successfully used to prepare carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-supported cobalt (Co) catalyst. The H2-DBD plasma treatment simultaneously decomposed and reduced the cobalt precursor at a lower temperature and in a shorter time than the conventional method (calcination and hydrogen reduction). It is considered that the H2-DBD plasma method can remarkably decrease the amount of energy input compared to traditional methods used to prepare the Co-based catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Results showed that the Co catalyst prepared by H2-DBD plasma had an equivalent catalytic performance for FTS as that prepared using the conventional method in calcination and hydrogen reduction, thereby determining that H2-DBD plasma was an effective alternative treatment for preparing the Co/CNTs catalyst for FTS. This technology will provide a new strategy for preparing catalysts in other catalysis processes.