Research progress on methane conversion coupling photocatalysis and thermocatalysis

• Published in: Carbon energy Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 519 - 540
• Main Authors: Zhu, Zengzan, Guo, Wenyi, Zhang, Ying, Pan, Chengsi, Xu, Jing, Zhu, Yongfa, Lou, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.08.2021; Wiley
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Bond energy; Catalysis; Catalysts; Direct conversion; Energy; Fossil fuels; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogen bonds; Light; Methane; methane conversion; methane partial oxidation; methane reforming; Methane utilization; Natural gas; Oxidation; Photocatalysis; photothermal catalysis; Photothermal conversion; Synthesis gas
• ISSN: 2637-9368; 2637-9368
• DOI: 10.1002/cey2.127

Conversion of methane into value‐added chemicals is of significance for methane utilization and industrial demand of primary chemical products. The barrier associated with the nonpolar structure of methane and the high bond energy C–H bond (4.57 eV) makes it difficult to realize methane conversion and activation under mild conditions. The photothermal synergetic strategy by combining photon energy and thermo energy provides an advanced philosophy to achieve efficient methane conversion. In this review, we overview the current pioneering studies of photothermal methane indirect conversion and present the methane direct conversion by the way of photocatalysis and thermocatalysis to provide a fundamental understanding of methane activation. Finally, we end this review with a discussion on the remaining challenges and perspectives of methane direct conversion over single‐atom catalysts via photothermal synergetic strategy. Methane conversion into value‐added chemicals is highly important for producing industrially demanded primary chemical products but still very challenging. The recently developed photothermal synergetic strategy by coupling photo‐ and thermo‐catalytic processes provides an advanced methodology to boost methane conversion. In this review, we summarize the pioneering research on photothermal methane direct and indirect conversion to provide a fundamental understanding of methane activation and conversion.