Electrocatalytic methane oxidation on Co₃O₄- incorporated ZrO₂ nanotube powder

The activation of methane (CH₄) gas to produce more valuable liquid hydrocarbons has long been a challenging issue in catalytic research. Electrochemical oxidation is one of the main methods of methane activation and can usually proceed at in ambient temperature. However, the lack of efficient electrocatalysts limits the practical application of this strategy. In this study, ZrO₂ nanotube powder with a high specific surface area was decorated with Co₃O₄ nanoparticles and used as the electrochemical anode for the partial oxidation of methane to generate C3 alcohol products. The Co₃O₄ nanoparticles formed on outer the surface of the ZrO₂ nanotubes offer an accessible diffusion route for methane gas, resulting in a low onset potential for electrochemical methane activation. A high production rate of approximately 2416 μmol g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ was obtained at 1.6 V (vs RHE) after 12 h of reaction. This nanostructure engineering strategy contributes to the enhancement of catalytic activity for electrochemical methane oxidation with the production of higher alcohols, which could provide a new catalyst synthesis strategy for researchers.