Laser induced photocatalytic conversion of methane into methanol

A study was carried out to develop new pathways for direct conversion of methane into methanol under mild experimental conditions utilizing laser light, water, and a semiconductor photocatalyst, e.g., WO₃. The use of methane, light, and water to produce methanol was an attractive option. The main advantage of using WO₃ for conversion allowed the reaction to occur in the presence of visible region instead of UV laser light. The use of visible laser light significantly simplified reactor design and permitted flexibility in the selection of a laser source in the visible region.