Methane hydrate formation in confined nanospace can surpass nature

Natural methane hydrates are believed to be the largest source of hydrocarbons on Earth. These structures are formed in specific locations such as deep-sea sediments and the permafrost based on demanding conditions of high pressure and low temperature. We report that, by taking advantage of the conf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature Communications
Main Authors: Casco, Mirian E., Silvestre-Albero, Joaquín, Ramírez-Cuesta, Anibal J., Rey, Fernando, Jordá, Jose L., Bansode, Atul, Urakawa, Atsushi, Peral, Inma, Martínez-Escandell, Manuel, Kaneko, Katsumi, Rodríguez-Reinoso, Francisco
Language:unknown
Published: 2023
Subjects:
58 GEOSCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL
AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Methane hydrate
permafrost
Online Access:http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1342661
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1342661
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7432
Description
Summary:Natural methane hydrates are believed to be the largest source of hydrocarbons on Earth. These structures are formed in specific locations such as deep-sea sediments and the permafrost based on demanding conditions of high pressure and low temperature. We report that, by taking advantage of the confinement effects on nanopore space, synthetic methane hydrates grow under mild conditions (3.5 MPa and 2 degrees C), with faster kinetics (within minutes) than nature, fully reversibly and with a nominal stoichiometry that mimics nature. Furthermore, the formation of the hydrate structures in nanospace and their similarity to natural hydrates is confirmed using inelastic neutron scattering experiments and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. Our findings may be a step towards the application of a smart synthesis of methane hydrates in energy-demanding applications (for example, transportation).

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