Partial oxidation of methane to methanol by isolated Pt catalyst supported on a CeO₂ nanoparticle

Catalytic transformation of methane (CH₄) into methanol in a single step is a challenging issue for the utilization of CH₄. We present a direct method for converting CH₄ into methanol with high selectivity over a Pt/CeO₂ catalyst which contains ionic Pt²⁺ species supported on a CeO₂ nanoparticle. The Pt/CeO₂ catalyst reproducibly yielded 6.27 mmol/g of Pt with a selectivity of over 95% at 300 °C when CH₄ and CO are used as reactants, while the catalyst had a lower activity when using only CH₄ without CO. Active lattice oxygen created on the Pt and CeO₂ interface provides selective reaction pathways for the conversion of CH₄ to methanol. Based on high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption near-edge structure, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, catalytic studies, and density functional theory calculations, we propose a mechanistic pathway involving CH₄ activation at the active site in the vicinity of Pt²⁺ species.