Fullerene-Based Catalysts for Methane Activation

We investigated fullerene based catalysts for the conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons. Fullerene soot, CO2 activated soot, and extracted soot as well as a Norit-A carbon were examined as catalysts for methane activation. The soot was found to easily activate the C-H bond of methane, allowing methane conversion at lower temperatures (lower by 250°C) than found under purely thermal conditions. Furthermore, soot catalysis appears to produce a minimal amount of aromatic hydrocarbons. Extracted soot was found to have a lower selectivity for C2 hydrocarbons than the non-extracted soot, and the CO2 activation of the soot did not appear to dramatically alter the catalytic activity.