Iron chloride-graphite intercalated compounds: Structure and selectivity measurements under Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction conditions

The structure and selectivity of the I- and V-stage FeCl₃-graphite compounds under reduction (at 400°C) and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction (at 300°C) conditions have been studied by high-resolution electron microscopy, electron diffraction, mass spectrometric and Mossbauer spectroscopic techniques. The two compounds have been found to possess almost similar selectivities. The electron microscopic and electron diffraction techniques reveal that in the I-stage compound, the intercalation occurs in (11̄0) plane, whereas in the V-stage compound it occurs in (11̄0) and (01̄0) planes. The analyses of the electron diffraction pictures of the small particles provided a means of identification of the phases present in the catalysts. Various phases observed by electron microscopy were also confirmed by in situ Mossbauer spectroscopy. No evidence of the formation of any kind of iron carbides was found either by electron microscopy or Mossbauer spectroscopy.