Rapid Microwave Construction of Interfacial Active Sites: Deciphering Support Effects in CO 2 Hydrogenation to Light Olefins

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Converting CO 2 into value-added light olefins offers a promising pathway for carbon neutrality, yet developing robust catalysts that operate efficiently under mild conditions remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we demonstrate a rapid microwave-assisted strategy to tailor the metal–support interactions of Na–Fe–Zn species across varying support architectures (CeO 2, Al 2 O 3, and CNTs). A systematic investigation reveals that the support identity plays a decisive role in catalytic performance. Among the candidates, the CeO 2 -supported catalyst emerges as the superior system, delivering a remarkable CO 2 conversion of ∼53% and a light olefin selectivity of ∼55% under mild reaction conditions (300 °C, 1.5 MPa). Characterization via XRD, H 2 -TPR, and in situ Raman spectroscopy uncovers the mechanistic origin of this enhancement: microwave irradiation facilitates the generation of abundant surface oxygen vacancies. These structural features promote the reducibility of iron species and the in situ evolution of the active Fe 5 C 2 carbide phase, significantly surpassing the performance of Al 2 O 3 - and CNT-supported counterparts. This work not only presents a highly efficient catalyst for CO 2 valorization but also highlights the potential of microwave-driven defect engineering in unlocking synergistic catalytic effects.