NOVELTY - Electrocatalytic polymerization of a hydrocarbon comprises passing hydrocarbon-containing gas through an anode chamber of an electrolysis cell to contact a catalytic anode, passing inert gas or oxygen through the cathode chamber, passing H+ through the membrane and forming higher hydrocarbons in the anode chamber and hydrogen or water in the cathode chamber.    USE - For the production of 2C and higher hydrocarbons from lower hydrocarbons, particularly for direct gas phase electrocatalytic polymerization of lower hydrocarbons, e.g. methane, to produce higher hydrocarbons, e.g. ethane and gasoline range hydrocarbons.    ADVANTAGE - Lower hydrocarbons can be polymerized and dimerized in order to produce higher hydrocarbons, including unsaturated hydrocarbons.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Gas phase electrocatalytic polymerization of a hydrocarbon selected from methane, ethane and methanol to produce higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen using an electrolysis cell comprises:    (i) passing hydrocarbon-containing gas through the anode chamber to contact a catalytic anode which is connected to one side of a solid electrolyte which comprises a solid proton conducting membrane;    (ii) passing an inert gas or oxygen through the cathode chamber to contact a catalytic cathode which is connected to the other side of the proton conducting membrane;    (iii) passing H+ through the membrane from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber; and    (iv) forming higher hydrocarbons in the anode chamber and hydrogen or water in the cathode chamber.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for an electrochemical cell for the above process, comprising:    (I) an anode chamber and a cathode chamber on either side of a solid electrolyte comprising a solid proton conducting membrane, with a catalytic anode and cathode;    (II) a means for passing hydrocarbon-containing gas in contact with the catalytic anode;    (III) a means for passing inert gas or oxygen in contact with the cathode; and    (IV) a means for withdrawing higher hydrocarbons from the anode chamber and hydrogen or water from the cathode chamber.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a Teflon (RTM) electrolysis cell.    Teflon body portions (10,11)    Flow inlet connector (12)    Flow outlet connector (13)    Electrodes (15,16)    Membrane (17)