Progress in electrochemical methane oxidation from catalyst to reactor scale

Electrochemical methane oxidation offers a promising route for converting methane into value-added oxygenates under ambient conditions, leveraging low-carbon electricity. Unlike traditional methods such as steam re-forming, ambient electrochemical methane oxidation enables modular operation, lower capital costs, and integration with renewable energy sources. Advances in catalyst design, reaction pathways, and reactor configurations have improved selectivity, Faradaic efficiency, and production of C 1 -C 3 oxygenates such as methanol, formic acid, ethanol, and propanol. However, ambient-condition electrochemical methane oxidation remains constrained by coupled catalyst-, reactor-, and separation-level challenges, including limited methane conversion, target-product selectivity, methane delivery, surface oxygen control, suppression of oxygen evolution reaction, and downstream separation. This review examines recent progress in catalyst function, surface oxygen sources, electrolyte chemistry, and reactor architecture, emphasizing the interplay of catalyst behavior and reactor design. The synthesis of experimental and mechanistic insights highlights principles such as three-phase interface engineering, flow reactors, bifunctional catalysts, and scale-up strategies alongside technoeconomic considerations for industrial translation.