Broad Audience Title

Metal Catalysts For Methane Deprotonation

Scientific Title

Vibrational Spectroscopy of Iron Methane Complexes

By Emily Boyle
Renewable Energy
iCons Year 4
2017
Executive Summary 

Commonly used natural gas is composed almost entirely of methane. However, transporting methane as a gas is incredibly dangerous. Thus, it is of interest to find a method to transfer methane to a liquid, namely methanol. To complete this reaction in an energetically efficient manner, a metal catalyst is necessary. The Metz physical chemistry laboratory has investigated the interaction between iron and methane by creating iron-methane complexes in varying stoichiometry using mass spectrometry and vibrational spectroscopy. The vibrational spectra can then yield information about how the iron effects the carbon to hydrogen bonds in methane. Additionally, computational methods are used to identify possible geometries and binding energies that can be compared to the experimental data.
 

Problem Keywords 
renewable energy, methane
Scientific Keywords 
iron-methane complexes in varying stoichiometry

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