The production of clean fuel via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) using carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported Fe catalyst is demonstrated. Conventional synthesis method for CNT-supported catalyst requires an additional functionalization step to create sufficient anchoring sites for deposited catalyst. The functionalization process involves aggressive acid treatment that impart significant amount of defects on CNTs and change their overall morphology, as well as degrade their outstanding material properties. Here, we propose a one-step liquid injection chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for simultaneous growth of CNTs and deposition of Fe catalyst on CNT wall. Ferrocene/xylene solution is used as catalyst and carbon precursors. Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) results reveal that reducibility of Fe is higher on CNTs than conventional oxidic supports (SiO2/Al2O3). The decorated Fe catalysts on CNTs have been evaluated as catalysts in FTS and the results have been compared to convention Fe catalysts supported on CNTs, Al2O3, and SiO2 prepared by incipient wetness impregnation.
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