title: Origin of the Ability of α-Fe2O3Mesopores to Activate C-H Bonds in Methane.
abstract: Methane is a most abundant and inexpensive hydrocarbon feedstock for the production of chemicals and fuels. However, it is extremely difficult to directly convert methane to higher hydrocarbons because the C-H bonds in methane are the most stable C-H bonds of all hydrocarbons. The activation of the C-H bonds in methane by using an efficient and mild route remains a daunting challenge. Here, we show that the inner surface structures of the pore walls in mesoporous α-Fe2O3possess excellent catalytic performance for methane activation and convert C-H bonds into the C-O bonds in an O2atmosphere at 140 °C. We found that such unusual structures are mainly comprised of turbostratic ribbons and K crystal faces and have higher catalytic activity than the (110) plane. These results are without precedent in the history of catalysis chemistry and will provide a new pathway for designing and preparing highly efficient catalytic materials.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Youyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P.R. China. agkong@chem.ecnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P.R. China. ykshan@chem.ecnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yongkui
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2119-656X
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shan
keywords: C−H activation; heterogeneous catalysis; iron; mesoporous materials; methane