Nanowire catalysts and methods for their use and preparation

A method for the preparation of ethane, ethylene or combinations thereof, the method comprising contacting a catalytic material with a gas comprising methane, wherein the catalytic material is in the form of a pressed pellet, extrudate or monolith and comprises:

• a) a plurality of catalytic nanowires, the catalytic nanowires comprising one or more doping elements;
• and
• b) a diluent or support selected from one or more alkaline earth metal compounds,
• and wherein the catalytic material has a C2+ yield above 5% when employed as catalytic material in the oxidative coupling of methane at an inlet temperature of 550° C. and an inlet pressure of about 2 atm in a fixed bed reactor with a gas-hour space velocity (GHSV) of at least about 20,000/hr.