Synergy of Oxygen and Water in Ceria-Catalyzed Direct Conversion of Methane to Methanol under Continuous Flow.

ABSTRACT: The direct conversion of methane to methanol (DCMM) under continuous flow and atmospheric pressure offers notable environmental benefits and industrial promise, but remains a long-standing challenge due to the difficulty of activating CH₄ while avoiding overoxidation of methanol. Here, we demonstrate that pure ceria (CeO₂), without any metal promoters, enables gas-phase DCMM with up to 80% selectivity at 300-350 °C, upon optimization of the H₂O/O₂ ratio. At 550 °C, methanol and formaldehyde are formed at rates of 24 and 38 μmol g^-1 h^-1, respectively, both dropping below 1 μmol g^-1 h^-1 in the absence of O₂. Ex situ transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and

SUBMITTER: Li W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12723672 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature