Synthesis and characterization of the flower-like La_(x)Ce_(1-x)O_(1.5+δ) catalyst for low-temperature oxidative coupling of methane

Lanthanum-based oxides are promising candidates for low-temperature oxidative coupling of methane(OCM).To further lower the OCM reaction temperature,the Ce doped flower-like La_(2)O_(2)CO_(3)microsphere catalysts were synthesized,achieving a significantly low reaction temperature (375℃) while maintaining high C_(2) hydrocarbon selectivity (43.0%).Doping Ce into the lattice of La_(2)O_(2)CO_(3)created more surface oxygen vacancies and bulk lattice defects,which was in favor of the transformation and migration of oxygen species at 350–400℃.The designed H_(2) temperature-programmed reduction (H_(2)-TPR) experiments provided strong evidence that the low reaction temperature of La_(x)Ce_(1-x)O_(1.5+δ)can be attributed to the transformation and migration of oxygen species,which dynamically generated surface oxygen vacancies for continuous oxygen activation to selectively convert methane.Moreover,designed temperatureprogrammed surface reaction (TPSR) clarified that two kinds of surface oxygen species in La_(x)Ce_(1-x)O_(1.5+δ)catalysts were concerned with catalytic performance,that is,the surface chemisorbed oxygen species for the activation of CH_(2)and the formation of CH_(2)·intermediates,surface La-Ce-O lattice oxygen species that caused the excessive oxidation of CH_(2)·intermediates.Finally,the factors affecting the transformation and migration of oxygen species were explored.