The　direct　activation　of　methane　under　mild　condition　to　achieve　highly　selective　of　oxygenates　is　a　challenging　project.　In　this　study,　a　well　dispersed　silver　supported　ZnTiO　3　catalyst　was　prepared　to　achieve　selective　preparation　of　methanol　from　methane　and　water　under　mild　condition.　X-ray　diffraction,　transmission　electron　microscopy　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　characterizations　demonstrate　that　silver　species　are　uniformly　dispersed　on　ZnTiO　3　surface　in　the　form　of　metallic　silver　nanoparticles.　The　photoelectric　characterizations　reveal　that　the　addition　of　silver　species　enhances　light　absorption　and　promotes　charge　separation　of　the　catalysts.　Under　the　reaction　conditions　of　50　degrees　C　and　3　MPa,　the　methanol　is　obtained　as　the　only　liquid　product　over　the　designed　Ag/ZnTiO　3　catalyst　under　light　irradiation.　In　this　photocatalytic　process,　the　holes　generated　by　ZnTiO　3　activate　water　to　produce　intermediate　center　dot　OH,　which　further　reacts　with　methane　to　synthesize　methanol.　The　silver　species　as　co　-catalysts　extend　the　light　absorption　range　of　ZnTiO　3　as　well　as　promote　charge　separation.　(c)　2024　Chinese　Society　of　Rare　Earths.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.