Research Progress on Anti-coking Catalytic Materials for Methane Conversion

doi:10.15541/jim20250439

Abstract

Abstract: Methane, a primary component of natural gas, shale gas, biogas, and gas hydrates, constitutes a vast hydrogen-rich resource for production of high-value chemicals. However, its intrinsic chemical inertness poses significant challenges for catalytic conversion, primarily due to high activation barriers and severe carbon deposition (coking). These challenges result in rapid catalyst deactivation and reduced selectivity, thereby hindering industrial viability. Consequently, developing high-performance catalytic systems for methane conversion is of strategic importance against the backdrop of global chemical industry upgrading and the demand for efficient energy utilization. While emerging externally driven strategies, including thermocatalysis, photothermal catalysis, and photo-electrocatalysis, enable methane conversion under milder conditions, managing complex carbon deposition remains a persistent challenge. This review systematically categorizes the formation mechanisms of carbon species under both oxidative and non-oxidative environments. Performances of various catalytic systems are examined, ranging from solid-state thermocatalytic and photocatalytic materials to molten-phase frameworks. Special attention is devoted to active site design and metal-support interface engineering as key determinants of carbon resistance, catalytic stability, and product selectivity. Furthermore, mitigation strategies are critically evaluated. Finally, this review outlines future opportunities through the integration of structural optimization, kinetic modulation, field-assisted catalysis, and intelligent design to develop robust, selective, and long-life catalysts for methane valorization.

Key words: methane conversion, anti-coking, catalyst, reaction mechanism, review

CLC Number:

O643

WANG Junbu, HUANG Ze'ai, YANG Mingkai, MENG Ying, ZHOU Mingwei, ZHOU Ying. Research Progress on Anti-coking Catalytic Materials for Methane Conversion[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20250439.

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