Chem. J. Chinese Universities ›› 2024, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 20230527.doi: 10.7503/cjcu20230527

• Review • Previous Articles    

Research Progress of Electrocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis from Different Nitrogen Sources

ZHAO Xiaoguang1, WANG Yunlong1, YIN Haibo2, QU Yakun1, SU Haiwei2, FANG Wei1()   

  1. 1.Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Co. ,Ltd. ,Beijing 100083,China
    2.School of Environment,Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084,China
  • Received:2023-12-30 Online:2024-03-10 Published:2024-02-21
  • Contact: FANG Wei E-mail:fangwei.ripp@sinopec.com
  • Supported by:
    the Class B Subject of the Project of China Petrochemical Corporation(323032)

Abstract:

Ammonia is an important raw material for fertilizer production and chemical industry, and is also a good carbon-free energy storage fuel. Compared with the Haber-Bosch method for industrial-scale ammonia synthesis with high energy consumption and low conversion rate, the electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis method has the advantages of green and high efficiency under mild environmental conditions. This article reviews the reaction mechanism of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis when using nitrogen, nitrate, and nitrogen oxide as different nitrogen sources. Based on the characteristics of different nitrogen sources, the research progress and advantages of each are analyzed. The problems of difficulty in controlling intermediates and reaction paths for nitrate reduction because of the large elemental valence span, complexity of the nitrogen oxide system, difficulty in controlling the hydrogen evolution reaction, and difficulty in dissolving nitrogen in water for activation are discussed, respectively. The solutions are summarized to develop high activity catalysts with different strategies to improve the reaction efficiency and selectivity, to optimize the reaction device to reduce the influence of mass transfer, and to select different electrolyte systems to improve the reaction process.

Key words: Electrocatalysis, Ammonia synthesis, Nitrogen, Nitrate, Nitric oxide

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