Formation of gas-phase methyl radicals over magnesium oxide

Low-Temperature Oxidation of Methane on Rutile TiO2(110): Identifying the Role of Surface Oxygen Species

Understanding the microkinetic mechanism underlying photocatalytic oxidative methane (CH4) conversion is of significant importance for the successful design of efficient catalysts. Herein, CH4 photooxidation has been systematically investigated on oxidized rutile(R)-TiO2(110) at 60 K. Under 355 nm irradiation, the C-H bond activation of CH4 is accomplished by the hole-trapped dangling OTi- center rather than the hole-trapped Ob- center via the Eley-Rideal reaction pathway, producing movable CH3• radicals. Subsequently, movable CH3• radicals encounter an O/OH species to form CH3O/CH3OH species, which could further dissociate into CH2O under irradiation. However, the majority of the CH3• radical intermediate is ejected into a vacuum, which may induce radical-mediated reactions under ambient conditions. The result not only advances our knowledge about inert C-H bond activation but also provides a deep insight into the mechanism of photocatalytic CH4 conversion, which will be helpful for the successful design of efficient catalysts.

Toward three-dimensionally ordered nanoporous graphene materials: template synthesis, structure, and applications

Precise template synthesis will realize three-dimensionally ordered nanoporous graphenes (NPGs) with a spatially controlled seamless graphene structure and fewer edges. These structural features result in superelastic nature, high electrochemical stability, high electrical conductivity, and fast diffusion of gases and ions at the same time. Such innovative 3D graphene materials are conducive to solving energy-related issues for a better future. To further improve the attractive properties of NPGs, we review the template synthesis and its mechanism by chemical vapor deposition of hydrocarbons, analysis of the nanoporous graphene structure, and applications in electrochemical and mechanical devices.

Impact of Local Structure in Supported CaO Catalysts for Soft-Oxidant-Assisted Methane Coupling Assessed through Ca K-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Soft-oxidant-assisted methane coupling has emerged as a promising pathway to upgrade methane from natural gas sources to high-value commodity chemicals, such as ethylene, at selectivities higher than those associated with oxidative (O2) methane coupling (OCM). To date, few studies have reported investigations into the electronic structure and the microscopic physical structure of catalytic active sites present in the binary metal oxide catalyst systems that are known to be effective for this reaction. Correlating the catalyst activity to specific active site structures and electronic properties is an essential aspect of catalyst design. Here, we used X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ca K-edge to ascertain the most probable local environment of Ca in the ZnO-supported Ca oxide catalysts. These catalysts are shown here to be active for N2O-assisted methane coupling (N2O-OCM) and have previously been reported to be active for CO2-assisted methane coupling (CO2-OCM). X-ray absorption near edge structure features at multiple Ca loadings are interpreted through simulated spectra derived from ab initio full multiple scattering calculations. These simulations included consideration of CaO structures organized in multiple spatial arrangements-linear, planar, and cubic-with separate analyses of Ca atoms in the surfaces and bulk of the three-dimensional structures. The morphology of the oxide clusters was found to influence the various regions of the X-ray absorption spectrum differently. Experiment and theory show that for low-Ca-loading catalysts (≤1 mol %), which contain sites particularly active for methane coupling, Ca primarily exists in an oxidized state that is consistent with the coordination environment of Ca ions in one- and two-dimensional clusters. In addition to their unique nanoscale structures, the spectra also indicate that these clusters have varying degrees of undercoordinated surface Ca atoms that could further influence their catalytic activities. The local Ca structure was correlated to methane coupling activity from N2O-OCM and previously reported CO2-OCM reactor studies. This study provides a unique perspective on the relationship between the catalyst physical and electronic structure and active sites for soft-oxidant-assisted methane coupling, which can be used to inform future catalyst development.

Lithium carbonate-promoted mixed rare earth oxides as a generalized strategy for oxidative coupling of methane with exceptional yields

The oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons offers a promising autothermal approach for direct methane conversion, but its progress has been hindered by yield limitations, high temperature requirements, and performance penalties at practical methane partial pressures (~1 atm). In this study, we report a class of Li2CO3-coated mixed rare earth oxides as highly effective redox catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane under a chemical looping scheme. This catalyst achieves a single-pass C2+ yield up to 30.6%, demonstrating stable performance at 700 °C and methane partial pressures up to 1.4 atm. In-situ characterizations and quantum chemistry calculations provide insights into the distinct roles of the mixed oxide core and Li2CO3 shell, as well as the interplay between the Pr oxidation state and active peroxide formation upon Li2CO3 coating. Furthermore, we establish a generalized correlation between Pr4+ content in the mixed lanthanide oxide and hydrocarbons yield, offering a valuable optimization strategy for this class of oxidative coupling of methane redox catalysts.

Lithium Promotes Acetylide Formation on MgO During Methane Coupling Under Non-Oxidative Conditions

A prototypical material for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is Li/MgO, for which Li is known to be essential as a dopant to obtain high C2 selectivities. Herein, Li/MgO is demonstrated to be an effective catalyst for non-oxidative coupling of methane (NOCM). Moreover, the presence of Li is shown to favor the formation of magnesium acetylide (MgC2 ), while pure MgO promotes coke formation as evidenced by solid-state 13 C NMR, thus indicating that Li promotes C-C bond formation. Metadynamic simulations of the carbon mobility in MgC2 and Li2 C2 at the density functional theory (DFT) level show that carbon easily diffuses as a C2 unit at 1000 °C. These insights suggest that the enhanced C2 selectivity for Li-doped MgO is related to the formation of Li and Mg acetylides.

Importance of Process Variables and Their Optimization for Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM)

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is a promising process for converting natural gas into high-value chemicals such as ethane and ethylene. The process, however, requires important improvements for commercialization. The foremost is increasing the process selectivity to C₂ (C₂H₄ + C₂H₆) at moderate to high levels of methane conversion. These developments are often addressed at the catalyst level. However, optimization of process conditions can lead to very important improvements. In this study, a high-throughput screening (HTS) instrument was utilized for La₂O₃/CeO₂ (3.3 mol % Ce) to generate a parametric data set within the temperature range of 600-800 °C, CH₄/O₂ ratio between 3 and 13, pressure between 1 and 10 bar, and catalyst loading between 5 and 20 mg leading to space-time between 40 and 172 s. Statistical design of experiments (DoE) was applied to gain insights into the effect of operating parameters and to determine the optimal operating conditions for maximum production of ethane and ethylene. Rate-of-production analysis was used to shed light on the elementary reactions involved in different operating conditions. The data obtained from HTS experiments established quadratic equations relating the studied process variables and output responses. The quadratic equations can be used to predict and optimize the OCM process. The results demonstrated that the CH₄/O₂ ratio and operating temperatures are key for controlling the process performance. Operating at higher temperatures with high CH₄/O₂ ratios increased the selectivity to C₂ and minimized CO_x (CO + CO₂) at moderate conversion levels. In addition to process optimization, DoE results also allowed the flexibility of manipulating the performance of OCM reaction products. A C₂ selectivity of 61% and a methane conversion of 18% were found to be optimum at 800 °C, a CH₄/O₂ ratio of 7, and a pressure of 1 bar.

Surface basicity controls C-C coupling rates during carbon dioxide-assisted methane coupling over bifunctional Ca/ZnO catalysts

Carbon dioxide-assisted coupling of methane offers an approach to chemically upgrade two greenhouse gases and components of natural gas to produce ethylene and syngas. Prior research on this reaction has concentrated efforts on catalyst discovery, which has indicated that composites comprised of both reducible and basic oxides are especially promising. There is a need for detailed characterization of these bifunctional oxide systems to provide a more fundamental understanding of the active sites and their roles in the reaction. We studied the dependence of physical and electronic properties of Ca-modified ZnO materials on Ca content via X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies, electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopic temperature-programmed desorption (IR-TPD). It was found that introduction of only 0.6 mol% Ca onto a ZnO surface is necessary to induce significant improvement in the catalytic production of C₂ species: C₂ selectivity increases from 5% on un-modified ZnO to 58%, at similar conversions. Evidence presented shows that this selectivity increase results from the formation of an interface between the basic CaO and reducible ZnO phases. The basicity of these interface sites correlates directly with catalytic activity over a wide composition range, and this relationship indicates that moderate CO₂ adsorption strength is optimal for CH₄ coupling. These results demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, a volcano-type relationship between CO₂-assisted CH₄ coupling activity and catalyst surface basicity, which can inform further catalyst development.

Constructing Y2B2O7 (B = Ti, Sn, Zr, Ce) Compounds to Disclose the Effect of Surface Acidity-Basicity on Product Selectivity for Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM)

To investigate the influence of surface acidity and basicity on the OCM reaction, four pure-phase Y₂B₂O₇ (B = Ti, Sn, Zr, Ce) compounds have been purposely constructed. The exquisite phase structure change results in the generation of different amounts of surface active O₂^- and O^- sites, which affects CH₄ molecule activation. Furthermore, both Lewis acidic sites and basic sites are formed on the catalysts in different amounts, which are related to the lattice disorder extent and the choice of A- and B-site elements. It is elucidated with strong evidence that the surface basic sites are favorable to C₂ product selectivity, but the surface acidic sites lead to deep oxidation of CH₄ and the coupling products to form CO_x. To design and fabricate Y₂B₂O₇ catalysts with better C₂ product selectivity for the reaction, a disordered defect fluorite structure should be engineered with A- and B- site elements having appropriate basicity.

Optimization of the Oxidative Coupling of Methane Process for Ethylene Production

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) process is considered an intriguing route for the production of ethylene, one of the most demanded petrochemical products on the market. Ethylene can be produced by various methods, but the most widely used is the steam cracking process. However, due to the current instability of the crude oil market and the shale gas revolution, the production of olefins from natural gas has opened a new path for companies to mitigate the high demand for crude oil while utilizing an abundant amount of natural gas. In this work, the OCM process was compared with other existing processes, and the process was simulated using Aspen HYSYS. The flowsheet was divided into four sections, namely (i) the reaction section, (ii) the water removal section, (iii) the carbon dioxide capture section, and (iv) the ethylene purification section. Each section was thoroughly discussed, and the heat integration of the process was performed to ensure maximum energy utilization. The heat exchanger network was constructed, and the results show that the heating utility can be reduced by more than 95% (from 76567 kW to 2107.5 kW) and the cooling utility can be reduced by more than 60% (from 116398 kW to 41939.2 kW) at an optimum minimum temperature difference of 25 °C. In addition, a case study on the recovery of the high exothermic heat of reaction for power production shows that 16.68 MW can be produced through the cycle, which can cover the total cost of compression.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Alkali Metal Atoms and Dimers on Ultrathin MgO

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) can provide unique insight into the chemical structure and magnetic properties of dopants in oxide and semiconducting materials that are of interest for applications in electronics, catalysis, and quantum sensing. Here, we demonstrate that EPR in combination with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) allows for probing the bonding and charge state of alkali metal atoms on an ultrathin magnesium oxide layer on a Ag substrate. We observe a magnetic moment of 1 μ_B for Li₂, LiNa, and Na₂ dimers corresponding to spin radicals with a charge state of +1e. Single alkali atoms have the same charge state and no magnetic moment. The ionization of the adsorbates is attributed to charge transfer through the oxide to the metal substrate. Our work highlights the potential of EPR-STM to provide insight into dopant atoms that are relevant for the control of the electrical properties of surfaces and nanodevices.

Studies on activation factors for oxidative coupling of methane over lithium-based silicate/germanate catalysts

Activation factors for improving oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalytic performance have been identified. Potential OCM catalysts, Li4SiO4 and Li4GeO4, have been discovered.

Direct Conversion of Methane to C2 Hydrocarbons in Solid-State Membrane Reactors at High Temperatures

Direct conversion of methane to C₂ compounds by oxidative and nonoxidative coupling reactions has been intensively studied in the past four decades; however, because these reactions have intrinsic severe thermodynamic constraints, they have not become viable industrially. Recently, with the increasing availability of inexpensive "green electrons" coming from renewable sources, electrochemical technologies are gaining momentum for reactions that have been challenging for more conventional catalysis. Using solid-state membranes to control the reacting species and separate products in a single step is a crucial advantage. Devices using ionic or mixed ionic-electronic conductors can be explored for methane coupling reactions with great potential to increase selectivity. Although these technologies are still in the early scaling stages, they offer a sustainable path for the utilization of methane and benefit from the advances in both solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers. This review identifies promising developments for solid-state methane conversion reactors by assessing multifunctional layers with microstructural control; combining solid electrolytes (proton and oxygen ion conductors) with active and selective electrodes/catalysts; applying more efficient reactor designs; understanding the reaction/degradation mechanisms; defining standards for performance evaluation; and carrying techno-economic analysis.

Alternative Oxidants for the Catalytic Oxidative Coupling of Methane

The catalytic oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to C₂ hydrocarbons with oxygen (O₂ -OCM) has garnered renewed worldwide interest in the past decade due to the emergence of enormous new shale gas resources. However, the C₂ selectivity of typical OCM processes is significantly challenged by overoxidation to CO_x products. Other gaseous reagents such as N₂ O, CO₂ , and S₂ have been investigated to a far lesser extent as alternative, milder oxidants to replace O₂ . Although several authoritative review articles have summarized OCM research progress in depth, recent oxidative coupling developments using alternative oxidants (X-OCM) have not been overviewed in detail. In this perspective, we review and analyze OCM research results reporting the implementation of N₂ O, CO₂ , S₂ , and other non-O₂ oxidants, highlighting the unique chemistries of these systems and their advantages/challenges compared to O₂ -OCM. Current outlook and potential areas for future study are also discussed.

C-H bond activation in light alkanes: a theoretical perspective

Alkanes are the major constituents of natural gas and crude oil, the feedstocks for the chemical industry. The efficient and selective activation of C-H bonds can convert abundant and low-cost hydrocarbon feedstocks into value-added products. Due to the increasing global demand for light alkenes and their corresponding polymers as well as synthesis gas and hydrogen production, C-H bond activation of light alkanes has attracted widespread attention. A theoretical understanding of C-H bond activation in light hydrocarbons via density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling provides a feasible approach to gain insight into the process and guidelines for designing more efficient catalysts to promote light alkane transformation. This review describes the recent progress in computational catalysis that has addressed the C-H bond activation of light alkanes. We start with direct and oxidative C-H bond activation of methane, with emphasis placed on kinetic and mechanistic insights obtained from DFT assisted microkinetic analysis into steam and dry reforming, and the partial oxidation dependence on metal/oxide surfaces and nanoparticle size. Direct and oxidative activation of the C-H bond of ethane and propane on various metal and oxide surfaces are subsequently reviewed, including the elucidation of active sites, intriguing mechanisms, microkinetic modeling, and electronic features of the ethane and propane conversion processes with a focus on suppressing the side reaction and coke formation. The main target of this review is to give fundamental insight into C-H bond activation of light alkanes, which can provide useful guidance for the optimization of catalysts in future research.

Nanosheet-Like Ho2O3 and Sr-Ho2O3 Catalysts for Oxidative Coupling of Methane

In this work, Ho2O3 nanosheets were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. A series of Sr-modified Ho2O3 nanosheets (Sr-Ho2O3-NS) with a Sr/Ho molar ratio between 0.02 and 0.06 were prepared via an impregnation method. These catalysts were characterized by several techniques such as XRD, N2 adsorption, SEM, TEM, XPS, O2-TPD (temperature-programmed desorption), and CO2-TPD, and they were studied with respect to their performances in the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). In contrast to Ho2O3 nanoparticles, Ho2O3 nanosheets display greater CH4 conversion and C2-C3 selectivity, which could be related to the preferentially exposed (222) facet on the surface of the latter catalyst. The incorporation of small amounts of Sr into Ho2O3 nanosheets leads to a higher ratio of (O− + O2−)/O2− as well as an enhanced amount of chemisorbed oxygen species and moderate basic sites, which in turn improves the OCM performance. The optimal catalytic behavior is achievable on the 0.04Sr-Ho2O3-NS catalyst with a Sr/Ho molar ratio of 0.04, which gives a 24.0% conversion of CH4 with 56.7% selectivity to C2-C3 at 650 °C. The C2-C3 yield is well correlated with the amount of moderate basic sites present on the catalysts.

Alkali-Added Catalysts Based on LaAlO3 Perovskite for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane

In this study, we aimed to enhance the catalytic activity of perovskite catalysts and elucidate their catalytic behavior in the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM), using alkali-added LaAlO3 perovskite catalysts. We prepared LaAlO3_XY (X = Li, Na, K, Y = mol %) catalysts and applied them to the OCM reaction. The results showed that the alkali-added catalysts’ activities were promoted compared to the LaAlO3 catalyst. In this reaction, ethane was first synthesized through the dimerization of methyl radicals, which were produced from the reaction of methane and oxygen vacancy in the perovskite catalysts. The high ethylene selectivity of the alkali-added catalysts originated from their abundance of electrophilic lattice oxygen species, facilitating the selective formation of C2 hydrocarbons from ethane. The high COx (carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) selectivity of the LaAlO3 catalyst originated from its abundance of nucleophilic lattice oxygen species, favoring the selective production of COx from ethane. We concluded that electrophilic lattice oxygen species play a significant role in producing ethylene. We obtained that alkali-adding could be an effective method for improving the catalytic activity of perovskite catalysts in the OCM reaction.

Exploiting oxidative coupling of methane performed over La2(Ce1−xMgx)2O7−δ catalysts with disordered defective cubic fluorite structure

The oxidative coupling of methane reaction to produce C₂ compounds was studied using La₂(Ce_1−xMg_x)₂O_7−δ catalysts with disordered defective cubic fluorite structures, varying the Mg content (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0), CH₄/O₂ ratio, temperature, and WHSV.

Elucidating the effects of individual components in KxMnOy/SiO2 and water on selectivity enhancement in the oxidative coupling of methane

To date, a great number of various materials have been tested for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM).

Synthesis of Value-Added Chemicals via Oxidative Coupling of Methanes over Na2WO4-TiO2-MnO x /SiO2 Catalysts with Alkali or Alkali Earth Oxide Additives

Na₂WO₄-TiO₂-MnO _x /SiO₂ (SM) catalysts with alkali (Li, K, Rb, Cs) or alkali earth (Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) oxide additives, which were prepared using incipient wetness impregnation, were investigated for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to value-added hydrocarbons (C₂₊). A screening test that was performed on the catalysts revealed that SM with Sr (SM-Sr) had the highest yield of C₂₊. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicated that the catalysts with a relatively low binding energy of W 4f_7/2 facilitated a high CH₄ conversion. A combination of crystalline MnTiO₃, Mn₂O₃, α-cristobalite, Na₂WO₄, and TiO₂ phases was identified as an essential component for a remarkable improvement in the activity of the catalysts in the OCM reaction. In attempts to optimize the C₂₊ yield, 0.25 wt % Sr onto SM-Sr achieved the highest C₂₊ yield at 22.9% with a 62.5% C₂₊ selectivity and a 36.6% CH₄ conversion. A stability test of the optimal catalyst showed that after 24 h of testing, its activity decreased by 18.7%.

Low-Temperature Methane Oxidation Triggered by Peroxide Radicals over Noble-Metal-Free MgO Catalyst

Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Hence, effectively removing the low concentration (<1000 ppm) of methane in the environment is an issue that deserves research in the field of catalysis. In this study, oxygen-magnesium bivacancies are simultaneously imbedded into MgO by designing an in situ reduction combustion atmosphere for oxygen release and substituting magnesium with carbon to induce the formation of magnesium vacancies. The DFT calculations reveal that the surface electron density of MgO is improved by the oxygen vacancy structure and the substitution of Mg by C in bulk; this accelerates migration of the charge from the material surface to the adsorbed oxygen species, which leads to abundant surface peroxide species that enable activation and oxidation of methane at a low temperature (below 200 °C). This work could provide a concept for developing non-noble or transition metal oxides for low-temperature activation and conversion of alkanes in the thermocatalytic field through reactive oxygen species.

Mechanism of selective and complete oxidation in La2O3-catalyzed oxidative coupling of methane

The catalytic mechanism and reaction network of oxidative coupling of methane over La₂O₃ are thoroughly investigated by density functional theory calculations.

Pressure-induced dehydrogenative coupling of methane to ethane by platinum-loaded gallium oxide photocatalyst

Pt/Ga₂O₃ induced photocatalytic dehydrogenative coupling of CH₄ to yield C₂H₆ under high CH₄ pressure.

Electric Field and Mobile Oxygen Promote Low-Temperature Oxidative Coupling of Methane over La1-x Ca x AlO3-δ Perovskite Catalysts

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) over La_1-x M _x AlO_3-δ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba; x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) in an electric field at low temperature (423 K) was investigated. Among the tested catalysts, the La_0.7Ca_0.3AlO_3-δ catalyst showed the highest performance in terms of C₂H₆ + C₂H₄ yield (11.1%). Surface mobile oxygen species (O₂ ^2- or O^-), which were considered as active oxygen species for the OCM reaction, increased with increasing Ca doping amount, and thereby the La_0.7Ca_0.3AlO_3-δ catalyst showed the best catalytic activity.

Reactive Radicals on Reactive Surfaces: Heterogeneous Processes in Catalysis and Environmental Pollution Control

Many reactions that occur on solid surfaces are mediated by free radicals. A review is presented of both mechanistic and practical investigations in relation to catalysis and environmental applications. The review begins with actual imaging of surface adsorbed reactive radicals using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), and then discusses a range of examples, mainly as underpinned by electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. Included are surface defects and their reactions, studies of the redox behaviour of zeolites, and the use of radicals adsorbed in zeolites as molecular surface probes of diffusion and reactivity within these important materials. Photocatalysis, mainly using TiO2-based materials, is reviewed both from the fundamental perspective and in terms of some practical examples relating to pollution control. Other reactive oxide surfaces are considered, including silica, and the nature of paramagnetic centres that may be induced thereon by a variety of activation procedures. Evidence is presented for the formation of radical species during heterogeneous reactions on metal surfaces. Finally, the role of free radical generation in creating and modifying polymer and nanomolecular systems is discussed, and the health implications of the ability of some solids such as quartz to generate reactive oxygen radicals in contact with biological media.