1. NiO/ZnO heterojunction nanorod catalyst for high-efficiency electrochemical conversion of methane.
- Author
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Kim, Cheolho, Min, Heewon, Kim, Junmin, Sul, Jiwon, Yang, Jiwoo, and Moon, Jun Hyuk
- Subjects
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NANORODS , *METHANE as fuel , *METHANE , *HETEROJUNCTIONS , *ZINC oxide , *PARTIAL oxidation , *CATALYSTS , *ETHANOL - Abstract
Electrochemical conversion is promising for selective partial oxidation of methane. We present a NiO/ZnO shell/core nanorod catalyst used to enhance electrochemical conversion. The built-in potential at the NiO/ZnO interface and the 1D morphology of the nanorods allow for fast charge transfer, thereby enhancing electrochemical methane conversion. We achieved a high ethanol production rate of 1084.2 μmol/g NiO /hr with a selectivity of 81 % for a 600-nm long NiO/ZnO nanorod catalyst. Mechanistic analyses with isotopic labeling reactions suggested ethanol production pathways involving generation of active oxygen by dissociative adsorption of the anionic CO 3 2- oxidant, formation of methanol by methane activation, and coupling of deprotonated methanol and methane. Furthermore, we improved the ethanol yield by improving methane solubility in sulfolane cosolvent mixtures. We also demonstrated conversion with in situ generation of CO 3 2- from a CH 4 /CO 2 mixture. [Display omitted] • We demonstrate electrochemical methane conversion on a NiO/ZnO shell/core nanorod catalyst. • The NiO/ZnO nanorods achieve fast charge transfer by built-in potential and vectorial pathways. • We obtain an ethanol production rate of 1084.2 umol/g NiO /hr with a selectivity of 81 %. • We present enhanced conversion by high methane solubility in sulfolane-containing electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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