Nature of Cu active sites in zeolite-based catalysts for selective catalytic oxidation of methane

Though copper-containing zeolites (Cu–zeolites) have shown great potential in the direct conversion of methane to methanol under low temperature, the yields of methanol and the catalytic efficiency remain far behind the necessary level for industrialization. The recent progress in Cu–zeolites catalysts for the direct conversion of methane to methanol by selective oxidation, especially in the investigation on the nature of Cu active species presented in zeolites, was summarized in this mini-review.