Chinese researchers have developed a new catalytic strategy that enables more efficient conversion of syngas to light olefins under mild conditions, significantly reducing energy consumption.

Light olefins are essential building blocks for manufacturing plastics and synthetic fibers. Published in Nature on Wednesday, the study was led by researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The researchers have introduced a hydroxyl-induced cobalt oxide catalytic strategy that achieves 80% CO conversion and 60% light-olefins selectivity at 250-260 degrees Celsius, 0.1 MPa.

Traditional Fischer–Tropsch synthesis for producing olefins requires higher temperatures of above 300 degrees Celsius and pressures over 2 MPa. By contrast, the new strategy has lower energy consumption and cost, offering a technological path for cleaner and more efficient coal utilization.

China holds vast coal resources. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, coal consumption accounted for 51.4% of the country's total energy consumption in 2025. This makes clean and efficient utilization critical for its low-carbon development in the chemical industry.