Effective methane conversion to methanol on bi-functional graphene-oxide-supported platinum nanoclusters (Pt₅)-a DFT study

Nowadays identifying a high-performance catalyst for converting methane to methanol is crucial because methanol serves as an excellent energy source and has wide chemical applications. In the present study, we used DFT, a computational chemistry method, to investigate the reaction mechanism of methanol production by conversion of methane on Pt₅ nanoparticles supported on graphene oxide (GO) substrates. Computational results predicted that the Pt₅/GO system exhibits excellent catalysis efficiency, compared with those of the previously examined Pt₂/GO and Pt₂O₂/GO systems. Energetics of examined molecular species and the reaction mechanism showed that the Pt₅/GO system exhibits high stability in this catalysis reaction and catalyzes the reaction efficiently. Moreover, between the two investigated surfaces GO and UGO, GO performed better and should be a promising catalyst support to convert methane into methanol.