Solar Hydrocarbons: Single-Step, Atmospheric-Pressure Synthesis of C -C Alkanes and Alkenes from CO.

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe O ) spinel has been found to produce C -C hydrocarbons in a single-step, ambient-pressure, photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO with a rate of 1.1 mmol g  h , selectivity of 29.8 % and conversion yield of 12.9 %. On stream the CoFe O reconstructs to a CoFe-CoFe O alloy-spinel nanocomposite which facilitates the light-assisted transformation of CO to CO and hydrogenation of the CO to C -C hydrocarbons. Promising results obtained from a laboratory demonstrator bode well for the development of a solar hydrocarbon pilot refinery.