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Conversion of Methane into Methanol and Ethanol over Nickel Oxide on Ceria–Zirconia Catalysts in a Single Reactor
Author(s) -
Okolie Chukwuemeka,
Belhseine Yasmeen F.,
Lyu Yimeng,
Yung Matthew M.,
Engelhard Mark H.,
Kovarik Libor,
Stavitski Eli,
Sievers Carsten
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201704704
Subject(s) - methane , catalysis , non blocking i/o , methanol , nickel oxide , cubic zirconia , nickel , inorganic chemistry , steam reforming , oxide , materials science , chemical engineering , chemistry , combustion , organic chemistry , metallurgy , hydrogen production , ceramic , engineering
The conversion of methane into alcohols under moderate reaction conditions is a promising technology for converting stranded methane reserves into liquids that can be transported in pipelines and upgraded to value‐added chemicals. We demonstrate that a catalyst consisting of small nickel oxide clusters supported on ceria–zirconia (NiO/CZ) can convert methane to methanol and ethanol in a single, steady‐state process at 723 K using O 2 as an abundantly available oxidant. The presence of steam is required to obtain alcohols rather than CO 2 as the product of catalytic combustion. The unusual activity of this catalyst is attributed to the synergy between the small Lewis acidic NiO clusters and the redox‐active CZ support, which also stabilizes the small NiO clusters.