Metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Recent progress and future perspectives

Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) is an important catalytic chemical reaction that converts a mixture of CO and H₂ (syngas) derived from biomass, coal or natural gas into ultra-clean fuels or value-added chemicals. However, most traditional catalysts used in the Fischer-Tropsch process are faced with the problems of high deactivation rate triggered by sintering, phase changes and oxidation which hamper their catalytic performance. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived materials have been a promising alternative in addressing the catalyst deactivation problems in FTS because of the encapsulation of their metal nanoparticles in carbon matrix and absence of large particle size, among other reasons. Therefore, this review emphasizes the most recent research headway in the investigation of MOFs as precursors to achieve high-performance FTS catalysts. Precisely, the design of iron and cobalt-based FTS catalysts from parent MOFs via MOF-mediated synthesis, the catalytic activity of the MOF-derived materials and the promoter effects under FTS operation were outlined and discussed. We have also evaluated the influence of MOF structures on the FTS performance and compared them with traditional/commercially available catalysts to show the importance of this approach. Finally, the challenges and opportunities to further expedite the extensive research efforts and promote their applications in material design and FT technology were mentioned.