Electrochemical Methane Activation and Conversion to Oxygenates at Room Temperature

Mustain E William, University of South Carolina - Columbia

© Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2013, Electrochemical Society.

William E, Mustain (2013). Electrochemical Methane Activation and Conversion to Oxygenates at Room Temperature. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 160(11), F1275-F1281.

https://dx.doi.org/10.1149/2.071311jes

Abstract

Methane was electrochemically activated at room temperature to CH₃OH, HCHO, CO and HCOO− and other low molecular weight oxygenates at room temperature using CO₃2− as an oxygen-donating species over a NiO-ZrO₂ bifunctional electrocatalyst. Products were identified using Mass Spectrometry and 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. O₂ and CO₂ were also observed as products resulting from carbonate electrolysis and/or the oxygen evolution reaction. Methane was adsorbed and activated by NiO while CO₃2− was adsorbed onto non-conducting ZrO₂. Oxygen was then abstracted and donated from CO₃2− to electrocatalytically active sites to form new C-O or O-H bonds. This proposed low temperature electrochemical partial oxidation of methane may provide a new pathway for the synthesis of complex oxygenates and long chain hydrocarbons.