[Research Highlights Vol.76] Selective Hybrid Photocatalyst Allows Oxidative Coupling of Methane to Ethane with Dioxygen

2022/12/19 by International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA)
#Au-ZnO #C–H bond activation #Ethane #Methane conversion #Oxidative coupling of methane #Photocatalyst #TiO₂

paper · doi:10.48505/nims.3816

Abstract

A team at WPI-MANA has demonstrated that methane can be efficiently and selectively oxidized to ethane with oxygen under light irradiation over an Au-ZnO/TiO₂ hybrid. This achievement opens the door to cheaper and more efficient production of valuable chemicals using methane as a feedstock.

Related

• Highly Selective Methane Photooxidation to Formaldehyde by Constructing Symmetry-Breaking Sites
• [Research Highlights Vol.54] A Low-cost, Safe and High-performance Iron Oxide Photocatalyst
• [Research Highlights Vol.20] Hydrocarbon photocatalysts get in shape and go for gold
• Overcoming thermodynamic incompatibilities with photons: multi-carbon hydrocarbons from methane and carbon dioxide via a hybrid photocatalytic dry reforming/Fischer–Tropsch process
• Cooperative Coupling of Oxidative Organic Synthesis and Hydrogen Production over Semiconductor-Based Photocatalysts