Morphology engineering of support oxides boosted the catalytic performance over Co/Y2O3 catalysts in reverse water-gas shift reaction

The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction represents a critical pathway for CO 2 valorization into syngas for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and renewable energy storage. Although Co-based catalysts offer an economical and efficient solution, their application is affected by CO 2 methanation reaction and carbon deposition, resulting in limitations that are difficult to balance between activity, selectivity and stability. This work provides an effective approach to enhance the RWGS reaction performance over Co-based supported catalysts through Y 2 O 3 morphology engineering (nanoplates/NP, nanorods/NR, nanospheres/NS). Remarkably, Co/Y 2 O 3 -NR catalyst demonstrates exceptional, CO 2 conversion (57.1 %), CO selectivity (99.3 %) and stability compared to Co/Y 2 O 3 -NP and Co/Y 2 O 3 -NS catalysts at 600 °C. Systematic characterization reveals that Y 2 O 3 -NR exhibits optimal Co dispersion, moderate metal-support interaction and preferential CO 2 adsorption, resulting in its outstanding catalytic activity. Crucially, spatially segregated carbon deposition preserves active sites across Co/Y 2 O 3 catalysts, enhancing the catalytic stability. These findings establish Y 2 O 3 morphology engineering as an exemplary support material and provide mechanistic insights for designing high-performance Co-based supported catalysts in RWGS reaction via morphological engineering.