Artificial　photocatalysis　provides　a　promising　approach　for　CH4　selective　conversion　into　CH3OH　under　mild　reaction　conditions.　However,　the　over-oxidization　by　the　active　oxygen　radical　species　impedes　for　the　high　efficiency　of　photocatalytic　conversion　of　CH4　to　CH3OH.　Here,　we　proposed　a　strategy　of　the　transfer　of　key　intermediates　.CH3　from　host　photocatalyst　surface　for　stability　to　improve　CH4　conversion　to　CH3OH　products.　A　Co3O4/ZnO　composited　photocatalyst　was　designed　to　efficiently　convert　CH4　to　CH3OH　with　a　rate　of　366　lmol　g-1h-1　under　simulated　sunlight　irradiation,　while　the　parent　ZnO　only　completely　overoxidized　CH4　into　CO2.　We　uncovered　that　Co(3)O(4　)played　a　new　role　as　the　active　site　for　the　adsorption　of　.CH3　key　intermediates　and　the　desorption　of　CH3OH　to　suppress　CH4　overoxidation　on　ZnO　surface.　This　work　highlights　cocatalyst　for　.CH3　intermediate　stabilization　to　control　the　pathway　of　photocatalytic　selective　oxidation　of　CH4　into　CH3OH　.　(C)　2022　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.