ZIF-8 pyrolized N-doped carbon-supported iron catalysts for enhanced CO2 hydrogenation activity to valuable hydrocarbons†

N-doped carbon (NC) material-supported Fe catalysts have been widely used in CO₂ hydrogenation reactions; however, the interaction between iron active sites and NC supports is still unclear. Herein, we synthesized a series of ZIF-8-derived N-doped carbon-supported iron catalysts via varied pyrolysis temperatures (Fe/NC-T, T = 950, 1050 and 1150 °C), preserving different amounts of N-type and C-type and tunable surface N-content. N-doping increases the adsorption of CO₂ and the electron density around the active phase Fe, thereby enhancing the dissociation of CO₂ during the reaction and the subsequent conversion of the CO intermediate to the hydrocarbon product. Besides, the balance of surface N-containing pyrrolic and graphitized carbon-mediated electron transfer on the catalyst surface was responsible for the enhanced catalytic performances. XPS, Raman spectroscopy, and TPD techniques were used to verify these alterations. The findings of this study provide insights and guidance for optimizing the catalytic performance of N-doped carbon-supported Fe catalysts in CO₂ hydrogenation reactions.