Atomically Dispersed Nickel Anchored on a Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon/TiO ₂ Composite for Efficient and Selective Photocatalytic CH ₄ Oxidation to Oxygenates

Direct photocatalytic oxidation of methane to liquid oxygenated products is a sustainable strategy for valorization at room temperature. However, in this reaction, noble metals are generally needed function as cocatalysts obtaining adequate activity and selectivity. Here, we report atomically dispersed nickel anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon/TiO2 composite (Ni−NC/TiO2) highly active selective catalyst photooxidation CH4 C1 oxygenates with O2 the only oxidant. Ni−NC/TiO2 exhibits yield 198 μmol 4 h selectivity 93 %, exceeding that most reported high-performance photocatalysts. Experimental theoretical investigations suggest single-atom Ni−NC sites not enhance transfer photogenerated electrons from TiO2 isolated Ni atoms but also dominantly facilitate activation form key intermediate ⋅OOH radicals, which synergistically lead substantial enhancement both