Structural Effect of One-Dimensional Samarium Oxide Catalysts on Oxidative Coupling of Methane

We report an interesting structural effect of one-dimensional Sm2O3 catalysts such as nanorods, nanobelts and nanotubes synthesized by a simple solvothermal method on oxidative coupling of methane. The Sm2O3 nanobelts showed the 28% CH4 conversion and 42% C2 selectivity at 500 °C. The different spatial structures and surface structures of these Sm2O3 catalysts indeed brought about the distinct exposed facets, surface active oxygen species and surface active sites, which could account for their diverse activity and products selectivity in OCM reaction. Otherwise, the Sm2O3 nanobelts doped with Sr increased the C2 selectivity to 48% at 500 °C, which enhanced the C2 yield sharply.