Technologies Available for License

2025-010: Catalyst for Converting Methane to Ethane at Medium Temperatures

Invention: 2025-010

Patent Status: Provisional filed on September 15, 2025

For technical and licensing related questions, email tcp@bnl.gov.

Summary

Brookhaven and Stonybrook University researchers have been developing catalysts for the activation and conversion of methane to ethane. The catalysts contain nanoparticles of MgO dispersed on a copper oxide substrate and are able to activate methane and generate ethane at 500 K. The catalysts display a high selectivity (70-80%) and are stable without deactivation by the growth of surface carbon.

Description

Journal Publication & Intellectual Property

• Low-Temperature Activation and Coupling of Methane on MgO Nanostructures Embedded in Cu2O/Cu(111) (.pdf)
• MgO Nanostructures on Au(111) as Catalysts for Low-Temperature Methane Activation and C?'C Coupling (.pdf)
• New Catalyst Recycles Methane Emissions at Room Temperature (.pdf)