A novel multifunctional catalyst turns methane into valuable hydrocarbons

Methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming, is also an important source of energy and an essential chemical resource. When used as a chemical feedstock, methane is typically converted into methanol first and then into hydrocarbons. However, this sequential conversion requires complex industrial setups. More importantly, since methane is a very stable molecule, its conversion into methanol requires tremendous amounts of energy when using conventional means, such as steam methane reforming.