High Selectivity Methane Coupling at High Pressure Using Novel, Defect/Disordered Rare Earth Oxycarbonate Based Catalyst Systems

            For Oxidative coupling of methane, rare earth oxycarbonates based catalyst systems have been discovered that provide, for the first time,60-70+% selectivity to C₂⁺ hydrocarbons at ~10 atmoshere pressure/450-600°C in microreactors that are stable for ~30 days.  These novel catalysts have non-stoichiometric, defect/disordered surface structure – as determined by various atomic resolution techniques.