Light-driven fuel cell, cathode catalyst for same, anode catalyst for same, and methanol production method comprising converting methane into methanol

Abstract

A light-driven fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and a proton-permeable membrane between the anode and the cathode. The anode includes a photocatalyst for anaerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the anode is supplied with methane and water and is irradiated with light, methanol, protons and electrons are generated by anaerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the water supplied to the anode; the protons pass through the proton-permeable membrane and move to the cathode; and the electrons move to the cathode via an external circuit. The cathode includes a photocatalyst for aerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the cathode is supplied with methane and oxygen and is irradiated with light, methanol and water are generated by aerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the oxygen supplied to the cathode and the protons and the electrons moved from the anode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.