Nanoceria Supported Atomic Platinum Catalysts for Direct Methane Conversion

Unmet Need
Light olefins and aromatics are the chemical building blocks necessary for the production of petroleum products such as plastic. Thus, the demand for light olefins and aromatics has increased with population growth and higher standards of living. The direct conversion of light olefins and aromatics from methane has become more popular as well with the increase to the supply of methane available; however, current methods for the derivation of light olefins and aromatics from methane lack stability and yield; therefore, there is needed improvement to the process of directly converting methane into light olefins and aromatics.
 
Technology Overview
Johns Hopkins researchers have found a nanoceria supported atomic Platinum catalyst that can be synthesized and demonstrated with advanced catalytic performance for the non-oxidative, direct conversion of methane. The catalyst was synthesized though the calcination of Pt-impregnated porous ceria nanoparticles at a high temperature with the atomic dispersion of Pt on the formed ceria nanoslabs. Using the catalyst, methane can be selectively converted into light olefins and aromatics, with coke deposition suppressed to be under 2% by the isolated active sites. The catalytic performance is demonstrated to be stable over a prolonged operation for 40 hours.
 
Stage of Development
Looking to market.
 
Publications
ACS Catal., 2018, 8 (5), pp 4044–4048

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