Low-Temperature Methane Oxidation Triggered by Peroxide Radicals over Noble-Metal-Free MgO Catalyst.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Hence, effectively removing the low concentration (<1000 ppm) of methane in the environment is an issue that deserves research in the field of catalysis. In this study, oxygen-magnesium bivacancies are simultaneously imbedded into MgO by designing an in situ reduction combustion atmosphere for oxygen release and substituting magnesium with carbon to induce the formation of magnesium vacancies.

Synthesis of {111} Facet-Exposed MgO with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in the Dark.

Seeking a simple and moderate route to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for antibiosis is of great interest and challenge. This work demonstrates that molecule transition and electron rearrangement processes can directly occur only through chemisorption interaction between the adsorbed O and high-energy {111} facet-exposed MgO with abundant surface oxygen vacancies (SOVs), hence producing singlet oxygen and superoxide anion radicals without light irradiation. These ROS were confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance, in situ Raman, and scavenger experiments.