PdCu nanoalloy decorated photocatalysts for efficient and selective oxidative coupling of methane in flow reactors.

ABSTRACT: Methane activation by photocatalysis is one of the promising sustainable technologies for chemical synthesis. However, the current efficiency and stability of the process are moderate. Herein, a PdCu nanoalloy (~2.3 nm) was decorated on TiO₂, which works for the efficient, stable, and selective photocatalytic oxidative coupling of methane at room temperature. A high methane conversion rate of 2480 μmol g^-1 h^-1 to C₂ with an apparent quantum efficiency of ~8.4% has been achieved. More importantly, the photocatalyst exhibits the turnover frequency and turnover number of 116 h^-1 and 12,642 with respect to PdCu, representing a record among all the photocatalytic processes (λ > 300 nm) operated at room temperature, together with a long stability of over 112 hours. The nanoalloy works as a hole acceptor, in which Pd softens and weakens C-H bond in methane and Cu decreases the adsorption energy of C₂ products, leading to the high efficiency and long-time stability.

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10564738 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature