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Intermetallic Electride Catalyst as a Platform for Ammonia Synthesis
Author(s) -
Wu Jiazhen,
Li Jiang,
Gong Yutong,
Kitano Masaaki,
Inoshita Takeshi,
Hosono Hideo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201812131
Subject(s) - intermetallic , catalysis , isostructural , materials science , ammonia production , hydride , transition metal , nanoparticle , ion , ammonia , metal , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , crystallography , metallurgy , organic chemistry , crystal structure , alloy , engineering
Electrides loaded with transition‐metal (TM) nanoparticles have recently attracted attention as emerging materials for catalytic NH 3 synthesis. However, they suffer from disadvantages associated with the growth and aggregation of nanoparticles. TM‐containing intermetallic electrides appear to be promising catalysts with the advantages of both electrides and transition metals in a single phase. LaRuSi is reported here to be an intermetallic electride with superior activity for NH 3 synthesis, and direct evidence is provided supporting its electride‐character‐induced catalytic performance. The discussion is made mainly based on the contrasting synthesis rates over the isostructural compounds LaRuSi, CaRuSi, and LaRu 2 Si 2 , and the N 2 isotope‐exchange reactions over these compounds. Lattice hydride ions, which can reversibly exchange with anionic electrons, are shown to be indispensable in the promotion of NH x formation. The mechanism derived from the present findings provides new guidelines for NH 3 synthesis.