INVESTIGATION OF FULLERENE-BASED CATALYSTS FOR METHANE ACTIVATION

Prompted by the ability of fullerene materials to promote formation an d cleavage of strong bonds and participate in hydrogen-transfer reacti ons, we investigated fullerene-based materials for conversion of metha ne into higher hydrocarbons. Fullerene soot was found to activate the C-H bond of methane, allowing methane conversions at temperatures lowe r than those required under either purely thermal conditions or when o ther carbons such as Norit or acetylene black are used. Modification o f the soot by extraction to remove the soluble fullerenes or by CO2 ac tivation to produce a high surface area material did not significantly alter the catalytic activity. The use of an alkali metal such as pota ssium was found to dramatically increase the selectivity to C-2-C-4 hy drocarbons after an initial activation period at 950 degrees C.