The Fischer-Tropsch reaction on a cobalt (0001) single crystal

The Fischer-Tropsch reaction is studied on a cobalt (0001) single crystal. Under the reaction conditions (1 bar synthesis gas; H₂CO = 21;T=250 °C) methane is the major product, with lesser amounts of heavier hydrocarbons. It is shown that the readsorption and subsequent hydrogenation of initially formed ethene is an important pathway to ethane. The activation energies for methane, ethane and propane formation are equal, which suggests that the rate-determining steps are similar.