Solar Cell-Powered Electrochemical Methane-to-Methanol Conversion with CuO/CeO2 Catalysts

Electrochemical CH 4 oxidation is attractive as a strategy capable of conversion with high selectivity, but improving productivity remains a challenge. We demonstrate that CuO/CeO 2 can serve as a catalyst for the room-temperature conversion of CH 4 to CH 3 OH in the presence of CO 3 2– . At an optimized ratio of CuO/CeO 2 (Cu:Ce = 6:4), we achieve the highest production rate of 752.9 μmol/g cat /h (6 h reaction) at ambient pressure; among the oxygenates, a CH 3 OH selectivity of 79% is obtained. In an experiment using isotopes, we confirm that CH 4 is activated by active oxygen on the catalyst surface provided from CO 3 2– to form CH 3 OH. Furthermore, we demonstrate a solar cell-powered electrochemical CH 4 conversion. In the 12 h reaction, a CH 3 OH production of 7165.0 μmol/g cat at ambient pressure and 21986.6 μmol/g cat at 10 bar is obtained.