Investigating the copper speciation in Cu-MORs using combined in situ XAS and XRD

Researchers have drawn inspiration from methanotrophic enzymes like pMMO, where Cu sites activate methane’s C-H bond under
ambient conditions in the presence of oxygen. The confinement of the active sites, as observed from these enzymes, is believed to play a
pivotal role towards their catalytic activity. Zeolites stand out due to their high nanoporosity, serving as ideal hosts by confining copper within
the aluminosilicate network, thereby modifying its redox properties and enhancing catalytic activity. The choice of synthesis parameters, such
as varying the aging time or the structure-directing cations, directly affects the speciation of the Cu species in mordenite (MOR), influencing
its performance in the methane-to-methanol (MTM) reaction. This study aims to track the speciation of Copper MOR under different
synthesis conditions using in-situ XAS/XRD during an MTM reaction, following a protocol adapted from our lab testing.