Preparation of Hydrogen Storage Liquid Fuel by Biomass-Based Syngas from Corn Straw over a C60 Modified Hydrophobic Catalyst

Alcohols, being a substantial category of hydrogen storage liquid fuels, exhibit promising development potential. Alcohol-based hydrogen storage liquid fuels can be efficiently produced from biomass-derived syngas (CO and H₂). Considerable efforts have been made in the conversion of syngas to alcohols through a higher alcohol synthesis (HAS) reaction. However, inevitably, there will be significant generation of H₂O and C1 byproducts (CO₂ and CH₄). In this study, a hydrophobic CoCuSNT@C₆₀ catalyst modified with fullerene (C₆₀, an all-carbon cage molecule) was designed to hinder the formation of H₂O and C1 byproducts. The hydrophobic C₆₀ shortened the retention of H₂O on the active site interface, restraining the water–gas shift reaction. This leads to a significant decrease in CO₂ generation, accompanied by an increase in the CO conversion and selectivity toward alcohols. The hydrophobic CoCuSNT@C₆₀ catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Compared to the unmodified CoCuSNT, the C₆₀-modified hydrophobic CoCuSNT@C₆₀ catalyst possesses higher CO hydrogenation activity and high alcohol selectivity, along with an impressive stability of up to 350 h to meet industrial applications.