The direct conversion of methane to methanol (MTM) is a reaction that has the potential to disrupt a great part of the synthesis gas-derived chemical industry. However, despite many decades of research, active enough catalysts and suitable processes for industrial application are still not available. Recently, several copper-exchanged zeolites have shown considerable activity and selectivity in the direct MTM reaction. Understanding the nature of the active site in these materials is essential for any further development in the field. Herein, we apply multivariate curve resolution analysis of Xray absorption spectroscopy data to accurately quantify the fraction of active Cu in Cu-MOR (MOR = mordenite), allowing an unambiguous determination of the active site nuclearity as a dicopper site. By rationalizing the compositional parameters and reaction conditions, we achieve the highest methanol yield per Cu yet reported for MTM over Cu-zeolites, of 0.47 mol/mol.

This contribution clarifies the overoxidation‐preventing key step in the methane‐to‐methanol (MTM) conversion over copper mordenite zeolites. We followed the methane‐to‐methanol conversion over copper mordenite zeolites by NMR spectroscopy supported by DRIFTS to show that surface methoxy groups (SMGs) located at zeolite Brønsted sites are the key intermediates. The SMGs with chemical shift of 59 ppm are identical to those formed on a copper‐free reference zeolite after reaction with methanol and react with water, methanol, or carbon monoxide to yield methanol, dimethyl ether, and acetate. This reactivity corroborates the location of SMGs at Brønsted sites. We find no evidence for stable SMGs directly at copper sites and explain mechanistically why H‐form mordenites outperform their Na‐form analogues. This finding is of interest for any future process that tries to trap the intermediate methane oxidation product towards methanol.

Herein we investigated the activity of copper mordenites in the methane-to-methanol conversion and the material de- and realumination. From four parent materials, a library of copper mordenites was synthesized by liquid- and solid-state ion-exchange techniques. Two key properties govern the activity of these materials in the methane conversion: the parent counterion and the copper ion-exchange procedure. H-form parents result in more active materials. The optimum stoichiometry between silicon, aluminum, and copper leads to a methanol productivity of up to 169 μmol/g. This equals a stoichiometry of up to 0.47 methanol molecules formed per copper atom. The methanol productivity is constant over up to three cycles. The stability of the mordenite framework was monitored by SEM, EDX, 27Al, and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. No detectable copper nanoparticles formed. However, a dealumination of the mordenite framework and the formation of extra-framework aluminum (EFAl) species in quantities of up to 12% were observed on H-form copper mordenites. The dealumination is weak or completely inhibited if counterions like Na+ or Cu2+ are present. These ions stabilize the framework aluminum during the reaction steps and upon heat treatments. Notably, the most active materials have significant EFAl contents present.

An innovative approach in EXAFS analysis and fitting using wavelet transforms reveals local structure and nuclearity of Cu-species in zeolites.

An industrial process for direct conversion of methane to methanol (DMTM) would revolutionize methane as feedstock for the chemical industry and it would be a cherished contribution to climate change mitigation. At the present stage, it is a rather remote perspective, but the search for the materials that would make it possible and economically viable, is very active. Cu‐exchanged zeolites have been shown to cleave the C−H bond of methane at low temperatures (≤200 °C), and has been extensively studied for the stepwise DMTM conversion over the last decades. The determination of the speciation of CuxOy‐species in zeolites and the understanding of their role in the reaction mechanism has been heavily debated. Lately, advanced X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis has been standing out as a powerful technique for investigating the behavior of Cu in zeolites. In this review we focus on the in situ and operando studies of changes in the electronic and structural properties of Cu, during the different steps of the DMTM conversion uncovered by XAS, which have led to new and insightful information about the complex behavior of Cu‐zeolites in the DMTM process.