Molecular adsorption on liquid surfaces with high rates of molecular motion introduces unusual and interesting aspects of surface chemistry. Dehydrogenation of methane on high temperature (800-1000 <sup>o</sup>C) catalytic molten salt surfaces is studied to enable the pyrolysis of methane to produce molecular hydrogen and solid carbon as a carbon dioxide-free pathway to producing clean burning hydrogen from abundant natural gas. In a liquid environment the carbon may be readily separated and removed continuously. The turnover frequency of methane on liquid surfaces is observed to strongly depend on the melt composition. The relative reactivities were investigated both experimentally and by density functional theory (DFT) and <i>ab initio</i> molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Experiments performed in bubble column reactors are compared to theory. Monovalent halide salt mixtures are found to be relatively inactive; however, polyvalent halide molten salt surfaces are catalytic with apparent activation energies of 90-200 kJ/mole. The catalytic liquid surfaces are found to facilitate both complete dehydrogenation, and the production of methyl radicals to increase the gas phase methane decomposition.

Interactions of methane on and near high temperature molten salt surfaces

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.