Sunlight helps convert methane into ethylene in clean new process

Researchers led by University of Queensland’s Professor Lianzhou Wang have developed a novel solar-powered process that converts methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into ethylene, a valuable chemical used in plastics and textiles. Unlike traditional methane conversion methods that require extremely high temperatures and are energy-intensive, this new approach uses Australia’s abundant sunlight and a palladium–gold alloy catalyst combined with titanium dioxide to drive the reaction. The catalyst uniquely alters the reaction pathway to favor ethylene production rather than over-oxidizing methane into carbon dioxide, thereby offering a cleaner and more energy-efficient alternative. This innovation not only promises to reduce methane emissions at their source, particularly from agriculture and coal mining in Australia, but also transforms harmful emissions into economically valuable products. The researchers envision deploying photocatalyst beds near methane-rich sites, such as livestock facilities, to capture and convert methane onsite using sunlight. While the current catalyst relies on costly metals like gold and palladium, ongoing research aims to find cheaper alternatives such as iron to make the process