Conversion of methane to C 2 and C 3 hydrocarbons over TiO 2 /ZSM-5 core-shell particles in an electric field.

Catalytic conversion of methane (CH 4 ) to light olefins is motivated by increasing recoverable reserves of methane resources, abundantly available in natural gas, shale gas, and gas hydrates. The development of effective processes for conversion of CH 4 to light olefins is still a great challenge. The interface of ZSM-5 zeolite and TiO 2 nanoparticles is successfully constructed in their core-shell particles via mechanochemical treatment with high shear stress. The oxidative coupling of methane at a low temperature under application of an electric field may be induced by the O 2 activation via electrons running through the surface of TiO 2 located at the interface of TiO 2 and zeolite particles. Moreover, C 3 H 6 was also produced by the ethylene to propylene (ETP) reaction catalyzed by Brønsted acid sites in the ZSM-5 zeolite within core-shell particles.