Selective electro-oxidation of methane to methanol at room temperature using a flow reactor

Converting methane to value-added chemicals is desirable for sustainable chemical production. Here, an α-Fe₂O₃ catalyst sprayed onto a graphite felt electrode was used as an electrocatalyst in a flow-cell reactor for methane conversion at room temperature. A methane conversion of 37% was achieved, with high selectivity toward methanol and a production rate of 873 µmol g^-1 h^-1, corresponding to a faradaic efficiency (FE) of 40.3% when water was used as the oxygen source. Upon the addition of 3% potassium chloride, the methanol yield increased to 1,248 µmol g^-1 h^-1 with a faradaic efficiency of 46.4% and a selectivity of 98%.