ELECTROCATALYTIC METHANE DIMERIZATION WITH A YB-DOPED SRCEO3 SOLID ELECTROLYTE

The electrocatalytic nonoxidative dimerization of methane to ethane and ethylene was studied at 750-degrees-C and 1 atm. The electrochemical cell used was Ag/SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-alpha/Ag where the solid electrolyte was a proton conductor. By applying a current to the cell, H+ was pumped to or from the Ag electrodes. Under closed circuit the rate of methane dehydrogenation to ethane and ethylene could increase to as much as eight times the open-circuit rate. The electrolyte cell offers a promising advantage over conventional catalyst supports.