Nonoxidative Coupling of Methane over Ceria-Supported Single-Atom Pt Catalysts in DBD Plasma

Plasma-catalytic direct nonoxidative coupling of methane (NCM) into C2 hydrocarbons was investigated over ceria-supported atomically dispersed Pt (Pt/CeO2-SAC) and nanoparticle Pt (Pt/CeO2-NP) catalysts in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma. Nonthermal plasma facilitated C-H bond dissociation in CH4 at low temperatures (<150 °C) and atmospheric pressure. The presence of Pt/CeO2 catalysts in plasma further enhanced CH4 conversion and C2 hydrocarbon selectivity by enabling the conversion of vibrationally excited methane species with high internal energy on active Pt sites. Noticeably, the Pt/CeO2-SAC catalyst displayed a more remarkable performance, with a CH4 conversion of 39% and a C2 selectivity of 54% at 54 W. The enhanced CH4 conversion was attributed to abundant coordinatively unsaturated Pt sites in Pt/CeO2-SAC, which were more active for C-H bond scission. Meanwhile, isolated Pt atoms in Pt/CeO2-SAC promoted C2 hydrocarbon formation by hindering the unselective formation of coke from deep dehydrogenation of CHx• intermediates and higher hydrocarbons from oligomerization reactions.