Cu single-atoms embedded in porous carbon nitride for selective oxidation of methane to oxygenates

Cu single atoms embedded in the C 3 N 4 (Cu-SAs/C 3 N 4 ) matrix exhibited high activity with 95% oxygenate selectivity for the direct conversion of methane at ambient temperature. The presence of abundant anchoring sites in C 3 N 4 led to highly dispersed Cu-N 4 moieties, which were suggested to be the underlying active sites for methane conversion. Cu-SAs/C 3 N 4 with Cu-N 4 as active sites exhibited high activity and high oxygenate selectivity for methane conversion at ambient temperature.