Translating clean liquid fuels synthesis with low aromatics over NaFe@C/HZSM-22 directly in CO₂ hydrogenation

Fuel production is an option for valorizing CO₂, yet deficient catalysts meeting the standard fuel production has impeded progress of this promising technology. Herein, liquid fuel synthesis is rationalized over a catalyst consisting ‘C′, ‘Na’, and ‘Fe’, as in NaFe@C, configured with ZSM-22 and ZSM-5 in CO₂ hydrogenation. While the ‘Na’ and ‘C′ functioned as structural promoters on Fe to enhance CO₂ conversion and olefins synthesis, the characteristics of the zeolites facilitated oligomerization of lighter hydrocarbons. A high C₅ + selectivity was obtained over the HZSM-22 composite in CO₂ hydrogenation dominated by olefins and isoparaffins. Model reactions for exemplar oligomerization activity over the zeolites revealed ZSM-5 as highly active with selectivity towards isoparaffins and aromatic. The ‘Na’ cations induce Lewis's acid sites (LAS) which suppresses hydrocracking during chain growth. This consistency, revealed between the model and CO₂ hydrogenation unlocks a door to zeolite usage in CO₂ hydrogenation to clean heavy hydrocarbons.