Electrochemical oxidation of methane towards methanol on mixed metal oxides

An electrochemical cell for conversion of methane to methanol and/or formate, comprising:

• an anode compartment comprising an anode, the anode comprising or having dispose thereon a bimetallic catalyst, the bimetallic catalyst comprising a patterned arrangement of a first metal region and a second metal region disposed on a support, wherein methane is converted to methanol and/or formate when methane contacts the bimetallic catalysts;
• a gas inlet in fluid communication with the anode compartment for introduction of methane into the anode compartment and arranged such that methane flows in contact with and/or through the bimetallic catalyst;
• a cathode compartment comprising a cathode;
• a membrane separating the anode compartment and the cathode compartment;
• one or more electrolytes disposed in and/or flowed through the anode and cathode compartments;
• and
• a product outlet in fluid communication with the anode compartment for collection of the methanol and/or formate after conversion;
• wherein in the patterned arrangement the first and second metal regions are arranged in a uniform alternating fashion across the catalyst with an interface defined between adjacent ones of the first and second metal regions, wherein each of the first metal regions comprises one or more of Cu, Pd, Ag, and Ni, and each of the second metal regions comprises one or more of Ti, Ir, Ru, Sn, Pb, and Pt.