(582cm) Cobalt Supported on Hydrothermally Synthesised Carbon Spheres for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Carbon spheres (CS_hydr) were synthesised by a low temperature (190 ^oC) hydrothermal synthesis method using sucrose as a substrate. The as-synthesised CS_hydr were then annealed at different temperatures ranging from 250 ^oC to 800^oC under N₂ gas. The effect of annealing changed the physical properties of the CS_hydr. BET studies showed that annealing of CS_hydr increased their surface area from 2.1m²/gto 431m²/g. CS_hydr were characterised using TEM, XRD, TGA and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectral ratios I_D/I_G, I_D2/I_G, I_D3/I_G, I_D4/I_G were analysed and correlated with the graphitic nature of CS_hydr. Co/CS_hydr were evaluated for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and the graphitic nature of the support correlated with the FT activity.