Single iron sites for catalytic, nonoxidative conversion of methane

The availability of inexpensive natural gas from the fracturing of shale and as a byproduct of oil production has stimulated the investigation of catalytic processes for the direct conversion of methane to products.Efforts in this direction are further driven by the desire to avoid the generation of CO2 and its emission to the atmosphere,as occurs when methane is steam-reformed to produce synthesis gas,a mixture of CO and H2 that can be used for the production of fuels and chemicals via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.Dur-