"Revolutionary Gold Nanocluster-Titanium Dioxide Catalyst Unleashes Methane's Potential"

Researchers have developed a new photocatalyst based on titanium dioxide loaded with gold nanoclusters that could advance the oxidative coupling of methane. The photocatalyst showed high methane conversion rates and C2 selectivity without requiring extreme reaction conditions. The catalyst, called Au60s/TiO2, outperformed previously reported catalysts in terms of stability, methane conversion rate, and yield of C2. The easy fabrication of the photocatalyst could facilitate large-scale production and deployment, potentially enabling the valuable utilization of Earth's abundant methane reserves.