Low-temperature electrochemical catalysis is attractive to utilize and convert light alkanes into commodity chemicals with the supply of renewable energy. While the activation of C-H bond in light alkanes, in particular methane (CH4), has been challenging, approaches driven by electrochemistry offer additional degrees of freedom for the establishment of new catalytic systems. Here we report our recent progress of developing new electrocatalysis for the selective activation of CH4 at low temperature and pressure. Electrochemical charger transfer yields new intermediates ambiently reactive towards CH4, and the electrochemistry-enabled spatial control of catalytic species warrants an ambient CH4-to-CH3OH process with seemingly incompatible steps. Mechanistic understanding of those reported systems guides us to develop advanced electrocatalysis of light alkane activation in the future.

Electrochemical activation of light alkanes at low temperatures

ACS Spring 2022

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