Zeng Xin, Zhang Shuai, Hu Xiucui, Zhang Cheng, Ostrikov Kostya Ken, Shao Tao
Beijing International S&T Cooperation Base for Plasma Science and Energy Conversion, Institute of Electrical Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Faraday Discuss. 2023 Jul 19;243(0):473-491. doi: 10.1039/d3fd00006k.
With the increase in the greenhouse effect and reduction of fossil fuel resources, it is urgent to find a feasible solution to directly convert power to chemicals using renewable energy and achieving zero carbon emissions targets. It is necessary to convert renewable energy (, solar, wind, water, ) into electrical power replacing fossil-fuel-fired power. Therefore, the power-to-chemicals approach is gaining more and more attention. In the past two decades, non-thermal plasma, electro-catalysis, photo-catalysis, and their hybrid approaches have shown great potential for the power-to-chemicals solution. This paper introduces the application of plasma technology in energy conversion, focusing on three main routes for plasma-enabled ammonia synthesis, and analyses the state-of-the-art. Research results of ammonia synthesis based on plasma technology are discussed. The application of advanced diagnostics evidences the importance of specific intermediate species and reaction pathways. Electrons, vibrationally-excited species, free radicals, and surface-adsorbed species play important roles in plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis. Combined with experiments and simulations, the mechanisms of plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis are examined. Vibrationally-excited species can effectively reduce the catalytic surface energy barrier. The techno-economics of the plasma-enabled ammonia synthesis technology is discussed in view of its competitive advantages. It is emphasized that the power-to-chemicals approach can be adapted for most chemical manufacturers, and these methods would play crucial roles in reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution. Finally, suggestions are provided for the sustainable development of the power-to-chemicals industry in the future.
随着温室效应加剧和化石燃料资源减少，迫切需要找到一种可行的解决方案，利用可再生能源直接将电力转化为化学品，以实现零碳排放目标。有必要将可再生能源（太阳能、风能、水能等）转化为电能，取代化石燃料发电。因此，电力转化为化学品的方法越来越受到关注。在过去二十年中，非热等离子体、电催化、光催化及其混合方法在电力转化为化学品的解决方案中显示出巨大潜力。本文介绍了等离子体技术在能量转换中的应用，重点关注等离子体合成氨的三条主要途径，并分析了其研究现状。讨论了基于等离子体技术的氨合成研究成果。先进诊断技术的研究结果证明了特定中间物种和反应途径的重要性。电子、振动激发物种、自由基和表面吸附物种在等离子体催化氨合成中起着重要作用。结合实验和模拟，研究了等离子体催化氨合成的机理。振动激发物种可以有效降低催化表面能垒。鉴于其竞争优势，讨论了等离子体合成氨技术的技术经济问题。强调电力转化为化学品的方法适用于大多数化工制造商，这些方法将在减少碳排放和环境污染方面发挥关键作用。最后，为未来电力转化为化学品行业的可持续发展提供了建议。
