Electrochemical conversion of hydrocarbons

A process for gas phase electrocatalytic polymerization of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane and methanol to produce higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen using an electrolysis cell having an anode chamber on one side of a solid electrolyte and a cathode chamber on the other side of the solid electrolyte, said process comprising:

• passing a gas containing said hydrocarbon through said anode chamber to contact a catalytic anode which is connected to said one side of the solid electrolyte, said solid electrolyte comprising a solid proton conducting membrane formed of perfluorosulfonic acid or polybenzimidazole,
• passing an inert gas or oxygen through said cathode chamber to contact a catalytic cathode which is connected to said other side of the proton conducting membrane,
• passing H+ through the membrane from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber, and
• maintaining the electrolysis cell at a temperature below 300° C., thereby forming said higher hydrocarbons in the anode chamber and forming said hydrogen or water in the cathode chamber.