Cu single-atoms embedded in porous carbon nitride for selective oxidation of methane to oxygenates

Cu single atoms embedded in the C3N4 (Cu-SAs/C3N4) matrix exhibited high activity with 95% oxygenate selectivity for the direct conversion of methane at ambient temperature. The presence of abundant anchoring sites in C3N4 led to highly dispersed Cu–N4 moieties, which were suggested to be the underlying active sites for methane conversion.