Construction of a CeO x -Ru Interfacial Structure for Enhanced Olefin Production in Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

Designing efficient interfacial structures to overcome the low intrinsic activity of low-loading Ru-based catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis oto olefins (FTO) remains crucial. Herein, we engineered a CeOx-Ru interfacial structure by doping Ce into silica-supported Ru nanoparticles. The optimized 0.1Ce/Ru catalyst (1 wt % Ru) exhibits 1.76-fold higher intrinsic activity than Ce-free Ru, maintaining ∼70% olefin selectivity, suppressing total selectivity of CH4 and CO2 to <6%, and achieving record-high olefin space-time yield with long-term stability. This catalyst also successfully breaks the activity–selectivity trade-off for reported Ru-based FTO catalysts. Characterizations and mechanistic studies verify that Ce incorporation not only generates electron-rich Ru centers at the Ru–Ov-Ce3+ interfacial sites but also constructs channels favorable for H2 activation and transfer; these effects collectively enhance H* reactivity, facilitate CO activation and dissociation, and ultimately boost FTO performance and Ru utilization efficiency.