One of the main problems of the Fischer− Tropsch synthesis is the overly broad distribution of the produced hydrocarbons due to the Anderson−Schulz−Flory law. This work is directed toward the solution of this problem by the application of nanoreactors with incorporated metal nanoparticles. Our results show that encapsulation of Co nanoparticles in nanosized porous silica spheres results in higher activity per catalyst weight and stability with a shift of the chain length distribution of hydrocarbons to lower values in comparison with Fischer−Tropsch synthesis over impregnated catalysts. These effects are due to the presence of well-dispersed isolated and stable Co nanoparticles inside of nanoreactors and shape selectivity effects which restrict the chain growth by the walls of nanoreactors. The proposed new strategy can be further extended to synthesis of olefins and alcohols with desired chainlength distribution from syngas by encapsulation of other metals (Fe, Cu, Rh, etc.).

This study focuses on the effects of the localization of Co species, zeolite structure, and acidity on the performance of Co bifunctional catalysts promoted with Pt for the direct synthesis of iso‐paraffins from syngas. ZSM‐5, MOR, and BEA were chosen as zeolites with different structures and pore diameters. The catalysts were prepared either by incipient wetness impregnation or by the mechanical mixing of the zeolite with a conventional silica‐supported Co catalyst. The increase in the pore size and open character of the zeolite structure from ZSM‐5 to BEA resulted in a higher fraction of Co located inside the pores of the catalysts prepared by impregnation. The catalytic performance was affected strongly by the zeolite acidity, pore structure, and Co distribution between the pores and the external surface. The selectivity to short‐chain iso‐paraffins is affected principally by the zeolite acidity, whereas the selectivity to long‐chain branched hydrocarbons mostly depends on steric effects.