Cu single-atoms embedded in porous carbon nitride for selective oxidation of methane to oxygenates

Cu single atoms embedded in the C3N4 (Cu-SAs/C3N4) matrix exhibited high activity with 95% oxygenate selectivity for the direct conversion of methane at ambient temperature. The presence of abundant anchoring sites in C3N4 led to highly dispersed Cu-N4 moieties, which were suggested to be the underlying active sites for methane conversion.