Oxidative coupling of methane over KCl-LnCl3 eutectic molten salt catalysts

Potassium-lanthanide chloride molten salts (KCl-LnCl3, Ln = La, Ce, Sm, Dy and Yb) were active and selective for the catalytic conversion of methane into C2 hydrocarbons (Sel. > 75%) using N2O as oxidant. The catalytic behavior depends on the surface properties.