LAUSR

Microspherical and uniform Fe–Zr–Ce–K catalysts were prepared by the microwave assisted precipitation followed by impregnation and promoted CO2 hydrogenation toward advantageous synthesis of light olefins. The reducibility, surface basicity and surface atom composition of the catalysts was tuned as the Ce content was varied. The ceria spacer restrained the growth of the Fe2O3 crystallite. Ce addition weakened the interaction between Fe species and zirconia and the reduction of the Fe species became easier. On 35Fe–7Zr–1Ce–K at 320 °C and 2 MPa, the conversion of CO2 and the selectivity of C2–C4 olefins were 57.34 and 55.67%, respectively. The ratio of olefin/paraffin was 7. The selectivity of CO and C5+ hydrocarbons were 3 and 15.87%, respectively. The enhanced performance is attributed to intensified bifunctional activity toward CO hydrogenation as well as the reverse water–gas shift reaction.