Novel (Co3O4)xN catalyzed 1-octene reaction with CO + H2 to nonanol

• N-doped Co 3 O 4 through ammonia-atmosphere thermal treatment. • Phase transition of Co 3 O 4 to CoO in (Co 3 O 4 ) x N. • Induced formation of O v for olefin adsorption. • 98% conversion of 1-octene and 77.83% selectivity of nonanol. The derivatives of primary Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) products are indispensable to the sustainable FTS run. For the one-pot conversion of FTS-based 1-octene to nonanol, nitrogen-doped cobalt oxides were obtained through hydrothermal synthesis followed by ammonia atmosphere thermal treatment (AATT) at 325 °C with varying treatment time. The AATT significantly affected the phase structure and the surface element valence states of the synthetic samples. The resulting (Co 3 O 4 ) x N showed high catalytic activity toward the reaction of 1-octene with CO + H 2 to nonanol through a successive hydroformylation-hydrogenation process, with conversion of 98 % and selectivity of close to 80 %. The crucial role of the CoO phase and the enhanced adsorption of the reactant molecules by the induced oxygen vacancy (O v ) were discussed based on multiple physicochemical properties characterization and activity evaluation.