Silver and Copper Dual Single Atoms Boosting Direct Oxidation of Methane to Methanol via Synergistic Catalysis

Abstract

Rationally constructing atom‐precise active sites is highly important to promote their catalytic performance but still challenging. Herein, this work designs and constructs ZSM‐5 supported Cu and Ag dual single atoms as a proof‐of‐concept catalyst (Ag1−Cu1/ZSM‐5 hetero‐SAC (single‐atom catalyst)) to boost direct oxidation of methane (DOM) by H2O2. The Ag1−Cu1/ZSM‐5 hetero‐SAC synthesized via a modified co‐adsorption strategy yields a methanol productivity of 20,115 µmol gcat−1 with 81% selectivity at 70 °C within 30 min, which surpasses most of the state‐of‐the‐art noble metal catalysts. The characterization results prove that the synergistic interaction between silver and copper facilitates the formation of highly reactive surface hydroxyl species to activate the C−H bond as well as the activity, selectivity, and stability of DOM compared with SACs, which is the key to the enhanced catalytic performance. This work believes the atomic‐level design strategy on dual‐single‐atom active sites should pave the way to designing advanced catalysts for methane conversion.

Strong Cu/ZnO Interfacial Interaction Induced by ZrO2 Promoter Suppressing the Ethanol Formation in Industrial Methanol Synthesis

“…To date, various catalysts have been engineered to enhance methanol synthesis. − For example, innovative combinations of copper-based catalysts with different metal oxides have been explored. Researchers have also finely tuned the precipitation conditions by adjusting factors like additives, aging, pH, precipitating agents, solvents, and temperature. − While some commercial catalysts have been optimized to favor methanol formation, the mechanisms that inhibit ethanol production remain elusive. , Consequently, a deeper understanding of these inhibition mechanisms to design superior catalysts is highly sought after.…”

Entropy-Engineered Middle-In Synthesis of Dual Single-Atom Compounds for Nitrate Reduction Reaction

“…Dual Single-Atom Compounds (DSACs) have emerged as a focal point in the field of catalysis, drawing widespread attention due to their properties and potential application value. , Characterized by the uniform dispersion of two distinct metal atoms on a singular support, this advanced catalytic system not only inherits the high activity and selectivity of Single-Atom Catalysts (SACs) − but also amplifies catalytic performance through the synergistic interaction between the two metal atoms. − However, despite the immense potential of DSACs, there are key challenges to overcome in their synthesis. First, current synthesis methods are often complex and costly, limiting their broad adoption in industrial applications. − Second, the stability of DSACs, − especially the phenomena of deactivation during catalytic reactions, has become a major barrier to their long-term stable application. Additionally, the purity of the catalyst is an issue that cannot be overlooked, as any impurities or cluster structures can adversely affect its performance and activity.…”