This work aims to develop fundamental insights about the underlying surface and bulk chemical processes instrumental to the efficiency of chemical looping combustion (CLC). CLC, which uses a solid-state oxygen carrier (e.g., metal oxides) to drive hydrocarbon combustion, is a promising combustion alternative that minimizes byproduct formation and facilities capture of CO2. In this work, we compare the performance of different transition metal oxides as oxygen carriers in CLC using CH4 as the reducing agent.