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Electrochemical conversion of methane to ethylene in a solid oxide electrolyzer

Author

Listed:
  • Changli Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shisheng Hou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiuli Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jinhai Lu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fanglin Chen

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Kui Xie

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Conversion of methane to ethylene with high yield remains a fundamental challenge due to the low ethylene selectivity, severe carbon deposition and instability of catalysts. Here we demonstrate a conceptually different process of in situ electrochemical oxidation of methane to ethylene in a solid oxide electrolyzer under ambient pressure at 850 °C. The porous electrode scaffold with an in situ-grown metal/oxide interface enhances coking resistance and catalyst stability at high temperatures. The highest C2 product selectivity of 81.2% together with the highest C2 product concentration of 16.7% in output gas (12.1% ethylene and 4.6% ethane) is achieved while the methane conversion reaches as high as 41% in the initial pass. This strategy provides an optimal performance with no obvious degradation being observed after 100 h of high temperature operation and 10 redox cycles, suggesting a reliable electrochemical process for conversion of methane into valuable chemicals.

Suggested Citation

  • Changli Zhu & Shisheng Hou & Xiuli Hu & Jinhai Lu & Fanglin Chen & Kui Xie, 2019. "Electrochemical conversion of methane to ethylene in a solid oxide electrolyzer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09083-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09083-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Lamichhane, Pradeep & Pourali, Nima & Scott, Lauren & Tran, Nam N. & Lin, Liangliang & Gelonch, Marc Escribà & Rebrov, Evgeny V. & Hessel, Volker, 2024. "Critical review: ‘Green’ ethylene production through emerging technologies, with a focus on plasma catalysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).

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