The conversion of methane and water to alcohols could not only reduce the greenhouse effecteffectively but also improve the utilization value of methane. In the present work, Ni-Cu/MoO_ₓ was preparedby co-impregnation method and applied to the activation of methane and water to produce ethanol. It wasfound that ethanol could be produced selectively mediated by Ni-Cu/MoO_ₓ and a yield of 18.5 μmol wasobtained at 240°C, 2.5 MPa. After CH4 cracking at 500°C, C-O and alkoxy carbon species formed on thesurface of Ni-Cu/MoO_ₓ, while C-C coupling and the formation of –CH3O species occurred at nearly 350°Cin the cooling process. The reaction of coupled surface species with water produced ethanol, promoted by thesynergetic effects of Ni, Cu and Mo active species. The direct conversion of methane to ethanol on Ni-Cu/MoO_ₓ provided clues for the production of value-added oxygenates from methane in further study.

The present work prepared Ni-Cu/MoO_ₓ by co-impregnation method, which could help the reaction of methane and water, producing ethanol selectively at 250°C, 2.5 MPa. C-O and alkoxy carbon species were detected by XPS and the variation of CH₃O- species during the cracking process were observed by MS, which might be responsible for ethanol production.