Enhanced CO₂ Hydrogenation to Hydrocarbons via SIL-Modified Fe-Ru/Al2O3 Catalysts: Tailoring activity and selectivity through support engineering

This study highlights the significance of modifying Al₂O₃ supports with supported ionic liquids (SILs) to enhance the catalytic performance of Fe-Ru-based catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation to produce short-chain hydrocarbons when compared to the conventional colloidal synthesis approach. This work marks a significant advancement in the field, with the potential to contribute to sustainable energy solutions such as converting CO2 into net zero e-fuels for transportation and using CO2 as a carbon feedstock for renewable resource development. The incorporation of SILs improves bimetallic interactions, reducibility, and particle size control, leading to increased CO₂ conversion and tunable product selectivity. Notably, SIL modified catalysts exhibit a shift in selectivity trends, enabling the production of methane or higher hydrocarbons depending on metal loading.