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Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Ammonia at Room Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure from Water and Nitrogen on a Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Electrocatalyst
Author(s) -
Chen Shiming,
Perathoner Siglinda,
Ampelli Claudio,
Mebrahtu Chalachew,
Su Dangsheng,
Centi Gabriele
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201609533
Subject(s) - electrocatalyst , ammonia production , ammonia , carbon nanotube , atmospheric pressure , electrochemistry , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , carbon fibers , nitrogen , hydrogen , chemical engineering , materials science , nanotechnology , electrode , organic chemistry , oceanography , composite material , geology , composite number , engineering
Ammonia is synthesized directly from water and N 2 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in a flow electrochemical cell operating in gas phase (half‐cell for the NH 3 synthesis). Iron supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was used as the electrocatalyst in this half‐cell. A rate of ammonia formation of 2.2×10 −3 gNH3 m −2 h −1 was obtained at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in a flow of N 2 , with stable behavior for at least 60 h of reaction, under an applied potential of −2.0 V. This value is higher than the rate of ammonia formation obtained using noble metals (Ru/C) under comparable reaction conditions. Furthermore, hydrogen gas with a total Faraday efficiency as high as 95.1 % was obtained. Data also indicate that the active sites in NH 3 electrocatalytic synthesis may be associated to specific carbon sites formed at the interface between iron particles and CNT and able to activate N 2 , making it more reactive towards hydrogenation.