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Selective photocatalytic oxidation of methane by quantum-sized bismuth vanadate

Author

Listed:
  • Yingying Fan

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Guangzhou University)

  • Wencai Zhou

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xueying Qiu

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hongdong Li

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuheng Jiang

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Peking University)

  • Zhonghui Sun

    (Guangzhou University)

  • Dongxue Han

    (Guangzhou University)

  • Li Niu

    (Guangzhou University)

  • Zhiyong Tang

    (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The direct oxidation of methane to more desirable, one-carbon oxygenated molecules such as methanol and formaldehyde offers a pathway towards a more sustainable chemical industry as the current commercial reforming process involving two steps features a high carbon footprint and energy consumption. Here, we report the selective photocatalytic oxidation of methane at room temperature using quantum-sized bismuth vanadate nanoparticles as the catalyst and oxygen as a mild oxidant. The reaction offers a high selectivity, of 96.6% for methanol or 86.7% for formaldehyde, under optimum wavelength and intensity of light, reaction time and amount of water solvent. Comprehensive characterizations disclose a multistep reaction mechanism in which the activation of methane by the hydroxyl radical determines the reaction rate. This work broadens the avenue towards the selective conversion of the greenhouse gas methane into desirable chemical products in a sustainable way.

Suggested Citation

  • Yingying Fan & Wencai Zhou & Xueying Qiu & Hongdong Li & Yuheng Jiang & Zhonghui Sun & Dongxue Han & Li Niu & Zhiyong Tang, 2021. "Selective photocatalytic oxidation of methane by quantum-sized bismuth vanadate," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 509-515, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:4:y:2021:i:6:d:10.1038_s41893-021-00682-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00682-x
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yingying Fan & Yuheng Jiang & Haiting Lin & Jianan Li & Yuanjiang Xie & Anyi Chen & Siyang Li & Dongxue Han & Li Niu & Zhiyong Tang, 2024. "Insight into selectivity of photocatalytic methane oxidation to formaldehyde on tungsten trioxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Jiwon Kim & Jae Hyung Kim & Cheoulwoo Oh & Hyewon Yun & Eunchong Lee & Hyung-Suk Oh & Jong Hyeok Park & Yun Jeong Hwang, 2023. "Electro-assisted methane oxidation to formic acid via in-situ cathodically generated H2O2 under ambient conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Xiao Sun & Xuanye Chen & Cong Fu & Qingbo Yu & Xu-Sheng Zheng & Fei Fang & Yuanxu Liu & Junfa Zhu & Wenhua Zhang & Weixin Huang, 2022. "Molecular oxygen enhances H2O2 utilization for the photocatalytic conversion of methane to liquid-phase oxygenates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Yang, Le & Lin, Hongju & Fang, Zhihao & Yang, Yanhui & Liu, Xiaohao & Ouyang, Gangfeng, 2023. "Recent advances on methane partial oxidation toward oxygenates under mild conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    5. Jun Ma & Can Zhu & Keke Mao & Wenbin Jiang & Jingxiang Low & Delong Duan & Huanxin Ju & Dong Liu & Kun Wang & Yijing Zang & Shuangming Chen & Hui Zhang & Zeming Qi & Ran Long & Zhi Liu & Li Song & Yuj, 2023. "Sustainable methane utilization technology via photocatalytic halogenation with alkali halides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Lei Luo & Lei Fu & Huifen Liu & Youxun Xu & Jialiang Xing & Chun-Ran Chang & Dong-Yuan Yang & Junwang Tang, 2022. "Synergy of Pd atoms and oxygen vacancies on In2O3 for methane conversion under visible light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Lei Zhang & Run-Han Li & Xiao-Xin Li & Shengyao Wang & Jiang Liu & Xiao-Xuan Hong & Long-Zhang Dong & Shun-Li Li & Ya-Qian Lan, 2024. "Photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of C(sp3)-H bonds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Lei Luo & Xiaoyu Han & Keran Wang & Youxun Xu & Lunqiao Xiong & Jiani Ma & Zhengxiao Guo & Junwang Tang, 2023. "Nearly 100% selective and visible-light-driven methane conversion to formaldehyde via. single-atom Cu and Wδ+," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Youxun Xu & Chao Wang & Xiyi Li & Lunqiao Xiong & Tianyu Zhang & Liquan Zhang & Qinghua Zhang & Lin Gu & Yang Lan & Junwang Tang, 2024. "Efficient methane oxidation to formaldehyde via photon–phonon cascade catalysis," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(9), pages 1171-1181, September.

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