Efficient methane oxidation to formaldehyde via photon–phonon cascade catalysis

Youxun Xu, Chao Wang, Xiyi Li, Lunqiao Xiong, Tianyu Zhang (), Liquan Zhang, Qinghua Zhang, Lin Gu, Yang Lan () and Junwang Tang ()
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Youxun Xu: University College London
Chao Wang: University College London
Xiyi Li: University College London
Lunqiao Xiong: Tsinghua University
Tianyu Zhang: Beijing Forestry University
Liquan Zhang: University College London
Qinghua Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lin Gu: Tsinghua University
Yang Lan: University College London
Junwang Tang: University College London

Nature Sustainability, 2024, vol. 7, issue 9, 1171-1181

Abstract: Abstract The oxidation of methane to value-added chemicals provides an opportunity to use this abundant feedstock for sustainable petrochemistry. Unfortunately, such technologies remain insufficiently competitive due to a poor selectivity and a low yield rate for target products. Here we show a photon–phonon-driven cascade reaction that allows for methane conversion to formaldehyde with an unprecedented productivity of 401.5 μmol h−1 (or 40,150 μmol g−1 h−1) and a high selectivity of 90.4% at 150 °C. Specifically, with a ZnO catalyst decorated with single Ru atoms, methane first reacts with water to selectively produce methyl hydroperoxide via photocatalysis, followed by a thermodecomposition step yielding formaldehyde. Single Ru atoms, serving as electron acceptors, improve charge separation and promote oxygen reduction in photocatalysis. This reaction route with minimized energy consumption and high efficiency suggests a promising pathway for the sustainable transformation of light alkanes.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01401-y

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