Patent ID: 7879749

Claim:
A method of synthesizing hydrocarbon molecules having two or more carbon atoms, the method comprising: contacting hydrogen and at least one of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide with a catalytic structure at a temperature greater than about 200° C. and a pressure greater than about 0.5 megapascals, the catalytic structure comprising: a zeolite material comprising: a first plurality of pores substantially defined by interstitial spaces within a crystal structure of the zeolite material, the first plurality of pores comprising a plurality of micropores; and a second plurality of pores dispersed throughout the zeolite material, the second plurality of pores comprising a plurality of mesopores; and at least one catalytic material differing from the zeolite material disposed within pores of at least one of the first plurality of pores and the second plurality of pores, the at least one catalytic material comprising a plurality of particles of the catalytic material having an average particle size of less than about 500 angstroms; catalyzing the formation of methanol from at least one of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen within at least one of the first plurality of pores and the second plurality of pores using the at least one catalytic material; and catalyzing the formation of hydrocarbon molecules having two or more carbon atoms from methanol within at least one of the first plurality of pores and the second plurality of pores using the zeolite material.