Current Progress on Methods and Technologies for Catalytic Methane Activation at Low Temperatures.

Methane (CH 4 ) is an attractive energy source and important greenhouse gas. Therefore, from the economic and environmental point of view, scientists are working hard to activate and convert CH 4 into various products or less harmful gas at low-temperature. Although the inert nature of CH bonds requires high dissociation energy at high temperatures, the efforts of researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of catalysts to activate CH 4 at low temperatures. In this review, the efficient catalysts designed to reduce the CH 4 oxidation temperature and improve conversion efficiencies are described. First, noble metals and transition metal-based catalysts are summarized for activating CH 4 in temperatures ranging from 50 to 500 °C. After that, the partial oxidation of CH 4 at relatively low temperatures, including thermocatalysis in the liquid phase, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and nonthermal plasma technologies, is briefly discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are presented to provide a systematic guideline for designing and synthesizing the highly efficient catalysts in the complete/partial oxidation of CH 4 at low temperatures.