Conversion of Methane into Methanol Using the [6,6'-(2,2'-Bipyridine-6,6'-Diyl)bis(1,3,5-Triazine-2,4-Diamine)](Nitrato-O)Copper(II) Complex in a Solid Electrolyte Reactor Fuel Cell Type

Abstract

The application of solid electrolyte reactors for methane oxidation to co-generation of power and chemicals could be interesting, mainly with the use of materials that could come from renewable sources and abundant metals, such as the [6,6'- (2, 2'-bipyridine-6, 6'-diyl)bis (1,3,5-triazine-2, 4-diamine)](nitrate-O)copper (II) complex. In this study, we investigated the optimal ratio between this complex and carbon to obtain a stable, conductive, and functional reagent diffusion electrode. The most active Cu-complex compositions were 2.5 and 5% carbon, which were measured with higher values of open circuit and electric current, in addition to the higher methanol production with reaction rates of 1.85 mol L^-1 h^-1 close to the short circuit potential and 1.65 mol L^-1 h^-1 close to the open circuit potential, respectively. This activity was attributed to the ability of these compositions to activate water due to better distribution of the Cu complex in the carbon matrix as observed in the rotating ring disk electrode experiments.