Nanocatalysts from Ionic Liquid Precursors for the Direct Conversion of CO2 to Hydrocarbons

The direct conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into gasoline range hydrocarbons (C5-C11) is a highly desirable process as a sustainable production route. This process is achieved by a multifunctional iron-based catalyst supported on zeolites providing three types of active sites (Fe3O4, Fe5C2 and acid sites), which cooperatively catalyse a tandem reaction. Here, we propose a new ionic liquid-assisted route for the synthesis of the Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONs) resulting in improved control over size and morphology of the nanostructured material, and as a consequence, better conversion and selectivity towards the olefins.