ORIGINAL PAPER Synthesis of Nano-catalysts by Induction Suspension Plasma Technology (SPS) for Fischer–Tropsch Reaction James Aluha 1 • Kossi Bere 1 • Nicolas Abatzoglou 1 • Franc ¸ois Gitzhofer 1 Received: 26 February 2016 / Accepted: 10 July 2016 / Published online: 22 July 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016 Abstract Nanometric catalysts were synthesized through induction suspension plasma technology (SPS) for application in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Carbon-supported single metal catalysts (Co/C, Fe/C), bimetallic formulations (Co–Fe/C), and ternary (Co– Fe–Mo and Co–Fe–Ni) systems have been considered in this work. SPS has been selected because it simultaneously allows for: (1) atomizing and generating metallic nanoparticles; (2) creating particularly Fe carbides, which are important in Fe-based FTS reaction mechanism; (3) in situ production of the nanometric graphitic-carbon matrix; and (4) saving time in catalyst synthesis, limiting sample preparation steps and eliminating post synthesis treatment before use. Porosity measurements by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method indicate that the samples are essentially non-porous. The synthesized catalysts characterized by X-ray Diffraction analysis show the presence of both metallic and carbidic species. The graphitic-carbon matrix has substantial structural defects that make it partly amorphous. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spec- troscopy mapping shows uniform dispersion of the metal moieties in the carbon support. Analysis by Transmission Electron Microscopy imaging displays metal nanoparticles with mean particle size within the 9–15 nm range enveloped in the carbon matrix. Keywords Induction plasma Á Suspension plasma Á Cobalt–iron–carbon catalyst Á Fischer– Tropsch Introduction Fischer–Tropsch catalysis is exploited commercially in the production of synthetic auto- mobile fuels such as gasoline and diesel, alongside other associated petrochemical prod- ucts. For process efficiency therefore, the catalysts employed must meet certain & Franc ¸ois Gitzhofer francois.gitzhofer@usherbrooke.ca 1 Department of Chemical and Biotechnological Engineering, Universite ´ de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada 123 Plasma Chem Plasma Process (2016) 36:1325–1348 DOI 10.1007/s11090-016-9734-1