Methane conversion on cobalt-added liquid-metal indium catalysts

Abstract

Non-oxidative methane (CH₄) conversion was carried out using a silica-supported cobalt-added indium liquid metal catalyst (In–Co/SiO₂). In–Co/SiO₂ showed different activity from In/SiO₂ and Co/SiO₂. In–Co/SiO₂ promoted the formation of aromatics (e.g., benzene) from CH₄. The ethylene conversion reaction implied that Co present in indium liquid metal was effective for the aromatization reaction. We propose bifunctional catalysis by In–Co for CH₄ conversion: (1) indium liquid metal activates CH₄ molecules to form C₂ hydrocarbons by CH₄ coupling, and (2) a portion of C₂ hydrocarbons is converted to aromatics by Co species present in the liquid metal. This work was compared to reported systems such as supported catalytically active liquid metal solutions (SCALMS).