Electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia by surface proton hopping

Abstract

We accomplished efficient electrocatalytic low-temperature ammonia synthesis with the highest yield reported to date.

N2 no quick fix

“…7 In another separate effort reported earlier in 2017, the group of Yasushi Sekine at Waseda University, Tokyo, used a static electric field in combination with ruthenium/caesium catalysts, and achieved ammonia synthesis at ambient temperature and pressure. 8 The production rate is modest, so far, with just half a gram ammonia produced per gram of catalyst per hour, but the authors anticipate the method could serve in small-scale facilities to produce ammonia on demand.…”

First observation of surface protonics on SrZrO3 perovskite under a H2 atmosphere

“…[4][5][6] Recently, an important role of surface protonics during heterogeneous catalytic reactions was found in an electric field under both H 2 O and H 2 atmospheres. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] It promotes low-temperature catalysis for hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, and other processes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of oxide surfaces under a H 2 O atmosphere has been investigated to elucidate the correlation between catalysis in an electric field and surface protonics (Scheme 1).…”

“…SrZrO 3 powders were synthesized using a complex polymerization method. 12,14,16 Then porous and dense SrZrO 3 pellets were prepared. The detailed preparation method Scheme 1 Contribution of surface protonics in the heterogeneous catalytic reaction for low temperature (o550 K) ammonia synthesis in an electric field.…”

“…The detailed preparation method Scheme 1 Contribution of surface protonics in the heterogeneous catalytic reaction for low temperature (o550 K) ammonia synthesis in an electric field. 12 is described in the ESI. † All electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were taken in a measurement cell (ProboStatt, NORECS AS, Norway) using a two-electrode fourwire setup connected to an impedance spectrometer (alpha-A; Novocontrol Technologies) with a ZG4 interface.…”

Ammoniaksynthese bei Zimmertemperatur?

“…Bald darauf erzielte eine andere japanische Arbeitsgruppe eine weitere Verbesserung. Die Gruppe von Yasushi Sekine an der Waseda‐Universität in Tokio verwendete ein statisches elektrisches Feld in Verbindung mit Ruthenium‐Cäsium‐Katalysatoren und realisierte damit die Ammoniaksynthese bei Raumtemperatur und niedrigen Drücken, sogar bei Atmosphärendruck . Allerdings hält sich der erreichte Umsatz immer noch in Grenzen – pro Gramm eingesetztem Katalysator produziert der Versuchsaufbau ein halbes Gramm Ammoniak pro Stunde.…”