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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
10:57
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
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Coordination-tailored atomic interfaces for selective CH4-to-C2 conversion in aqueous solution
1Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Science of Material Creation and Energy Conversion, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, PR China.
Nature Communications
|October 15, 2025
Summary
This study introduces Fe diatomic catalysts on carbon nitride aerogels for selective methane oxidation to acetic acid under mild conditions. The novel Fe-O2-Fe interfaces achieve high selectivity and production rates, paving the way for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis science
- Materials science
- Green chemistry
Background:
- Selective methane oxidation to valuable chemicals is a significant challenge.
- Mild reaction conditions are desired for energy efficiency and sustainability.
- Dual-atom catalysts offer unique active sites for chemical transformations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize Fe dual-atom catalysts (Fe-DAC/g-C3N4) with O2-bridged Fe diatomic interfaces.
- To investigate the mechanism of selective methane oxidation to acetic acid under mild conditions.
- To achieve high performance and selectivity in methane conversion.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of Fe dual-atom catalysts supported on carbon nitride aerogels.
- Characterization of the Fe-O2-Fe interfaces using advanced techniques.
- Experimental investigation of methane oxidation reaction kinetics and mechanism.
- Performance evaluation under ambient and industrially relevant pressures.
Main Results:
- Successfully constructed Fe-O2-Fe diatomic interfaces with precise Fe-Fe distance (2.92 ± 0.05 Å).
- Achieved near 100% selectivity for acetic acid production under mild conditions.
- Demonstrated a CH3COOH production rate of 0.79 mmol gcat−1 h−1 at ambient conditions.
- Observed a production rate of 1.67 mmol gcat−1 h−1 at 1.5 MPa CH4 with >96% selectivity.
Conclusions:
- The O2-bridged Fe diatomic interfaces are crucial for activating methane C-H bonds.
- A concerted mechanism involving radical intermediates and C-C coupling leads to selective acetic acid formation.
- The developed Fe-DAC/g-C3N4 catalyst shows exceptional performance for industrial methane valorization.
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