Ultrahigh Electrocatalytic Conversion of Methane at Room Temperature

Due to the greenhouse effect, enormous efforts are done for carbon dioxide reduction. By contrast, more attention should be paid for the methane oxidation and conversion, which can help the effective utilization of methane without emission. However, methane conversion and utilization under ambient conditions remains a challenge. Here, this study designs a Co₃O₄/ZrO₂ nanocomposite for the electrochemical oxidation of methane gas using a carbonate electrolyte at room temperature. Co₃O₄ activated the highly efficient oxidation of methane under mild electric energy with the help of carbonate as an oxidant, which is delivered by ZrO₂. Based on the experimental results, acetaldehyde is the key intermediate product. Subsequent nucleophilic addition and free radical addition reactions accounted for the generation of 2-propanol and 1-propanol, respectively. Surprisingly, this work achieves a production efficiency of over 60% in the conversion of methane to produce these long-term stable products. The as-proposed regional electrochemical methane oxidation provides a new pathway for the synthesis of higher alcohols with high production efficiencies under ambient conditions.