Recent Progress on the Involvement of Formaldehyde in the Methanol‐to‐Hydrocarbons Reaction

The conversion of methanol‐to‐hydrocarbons (MTH) over zeolite catalysts has been the subject of intense research since its discovery. Great effort has been devoted to the investigation of four key topics: the initiation of C‐C bonds, the establishment of hydrocarbon pool (HCP), the adjustment of product selectivity, and the deactivation process of catalysts. Despite 50 years of study, some mechanisms remain controversial. However, an intermediate species, formaldehyde (HCHO), has recently garnered considerable attention for its influence on the entire MTH process. The discovery of HCHO and its significant role in the MTH process has been facilitated by the application of in situ analytical techniques, such as synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry (SR‐PIMS) and photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (PEPICO). It is now revealed that HCHO is involved in the initiation, propagation, and termination process of MTH reaction. Such mechanistic understanding of HCHO’s involvement has provided valuable insights for optimizing the MTH process.