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Light‐Induced Nonoxidative Coupling of Methane Using Stable Solid Solutions
Author(s) -
Wang Guangming,
Mu Xiaowei,
Li Jiayang,
Zhan Qingyun,
Qian Yumeng,
Mu Xiaoyue,
Li Lu
Publication year - 2021
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.202108870
Subject(s) - methane , dehydrogenation , catalysis , oxidative coupling of methane , stoichiometry , coke , wurtzite crystal structure , photocatalysis , chemistry , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , zinc , engineering
Achieving efficient and direct conversion of methane under mild conditions is of great significance for innovations in the chemical industry. However, the efficiency and lifetime of most catalysts remain too far from practical requirements, since it is difficult to break the first C−H bond of methane as well as to suppress the following complete dehydrogenation (or overoxidation) and the resulting carbonaceous deposition (or CO 2 ). Here, we report that wurtzite GaN:ZnO solid solutions exhibit unique and unprecedented photocatalytic performances for the nonoxidative coupling of methane at room temperature, exclusively generating ethane with nearly stoichiometric H 2 . High conversion rate (>330 μmol g −1 h −1 ), long‐term stability (>70 h), and superior coke‐resistance were achieved. At 293 K, the methane conversion exceeds 7 %, comparable to the equilibrium conversion of thermal catalysis at 910 K. Mechanistic studies revealed that the N‐Zn Ga ‐O N units and the absence of acid sites on the surface played crucial roles in reactivity and coke resistance, respectively.