Facet-Controlled CeO2 Nanocrystals for Oxidative Coupling of Methane.

Whether the catalysts of the high temperature reaction such methane oxidation coupling has a structure-sensitive catalytic behavior or not, it is discussed and confirmed the shape-specific impact on methane activity by designing the catalysts with different crystal facets exposed. CeO2 nanowires enclosed by {110} and {100} planes show the higher CH4 conversion and higher C2 hydrocarbons (C2H4 and C2H6) selectivity, compared with particle CeO2 rounded by {111} and {100} planes, suggesting that CeO2 (110) surface favors the activation of CH4. Encouraged by the result, to control facet-controlled synthesis of catalysts for tailoring the catalytic properties at high temperature, the CeO2 (110) surface is chosen as doped sites to form the doped catalyst such as Ca doped CeO2 nanowires for OCM reaction, enhancing C2 hydrocarbons selectivity dramatically and suppressing the deep oxidation product (CO and CO2) selectivity.