With multiple characterizations, the researchers found that the Ca loading enabled the Ca-Fe catalyst to have high surface iron carbides with a proper Fe 2 C/ (Fe 5 C 2 +Fe 3 C) ratio.

The result was published in the Chinese Journal of Catalysis. Iron carbide catalysts were prepared through a gas-phase reduction-carbonization route (FeOOH—α-Fe 2 O 3 —α-Fe—iron carbide).