Theoretical Study of Reaction Paths and Transition States on Conversion Methane into C2 Hydrocarbons Through Plasma*

The direct synthesis of C2 hydrocarbons (ethylene, acetylene and ethane) from methane is one of the most important task in C1 chemistry. Higher conversion of methane and selectivity to C2 hydrocarbons can be realized through plasma reaction. In order to explore the reaction process and mechanism, the possible reaction paths (1)–(4) were proposed on coupling reaction of methane through plasma and studied theoretically using semi-PM3 method [PM3 is parameterization method of modified neglect of diatomic overlap (MNDO)] including determining the transition state, calculating the activation energy and thermodynamic state functions and analyzing the bond order and intrinsic reaction coordinate. The reaction heat results indicate that the reactions (2) and (4) are exothermic, while reactions of (1) and (3) are endothermic. The activation energy results show that activation energy for reactions (1) and (2) was much lower than that of reaction paths (3) and (4). Therefore, paths (1) and (2) is the favorable reaction path energetically. More interestingly by comparing the intrinsic reaction coordinated (IRC) of the reaction paths (1) and (2), it is found that the variations of bond lengths in reaction path (1) has a crucial effect on the potential energy, while in reaction path (2), the adjustment of the system geometry also contributes to the whole potential energy of the system.