Tuning catalytic performance in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis by metal-support interactions

•Depositing tetraethoxysilane on Co3O4 results in the formation of nano-sized islands.•Structure of deposited silicate dependent on the solvent used.•Silicates are attached to cobalt via Co-O-Si.•The presence of nano-sized silica island results in a 20–50 fold increase in the turnover frequency.