Akter Riva, Shah Syed Shaheen, Ehsan Muhammad Ali, Shaikh M Nasiruzzaman, Zahir Md Hasan, Aziz Md Abdul, Ahammad A J Saleh
Department of Chemistry, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh.
Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8520, Japan.
Chem Asian J. 2024 Aug 19;19(16):e202300797. doi: 10.1002/asia.202300797. Epub 2023 Oct 25.
Ammonia (NH), a cornerstone in the chemical industry, has historically been pivotal for producing various valuable products, notably fertilizers. Its significance is further underscored in the modern energy landscape, where NH is seen as a promising medium for hydrogen storage and transportation. However, the conventional Haber-Bosch process, which accounts for approximately 170 million ton of NH produced globally each year, is energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) emerges as a sustainable alternative that operates in ambient conditions and uses renewable energy sources. Despite its potential, the NRR faces challenges, including the inherent stability of nitrogen and its competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction. Transition metals, especially ruthenium (Ru) and molybdenum (Mo), have demonstrated promise as catalysts, enhancing the efficiency of the NRR. Ru excels in catalytic activity, while Mo offers robustness. Strategies like heteroatom doping are being pursued to mitigate NRR challenges, especially the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. This review delves into the advancements of Ru and Mo-based catalysts for electrochemical ammonia synthesis, elucidating the NRR mechanisms, and championing the transition towards a greener ammonia economy. It also seeks to elucidate the core principles underpinning the NRR mechanism. This shift aims not only to address challenges inherent to traditional production methods but also to align with the overarching goals of global sustainability.
氨（NH₃）是化学工业的基石，在历史上一直是生产各种有价值产品（尤其是化肥）的关键。在现代能源领域，氨的重要性进一步凸显，它被视为一种有前景的氢储存和运输介质。然而，传统的哈伯-博施法每年全球生产约1.7亿吨氨，该方法能源密集且对环境有害。电化学氮还原反应（NRR）作为一种可持续的替代方法出现，它在环境条件下运行并使用可再生能源。尽管具有潜力，但NRR面临挑战，包括氮的固有稳定性及其与析氢反应的竞争。过渡金属，特别是钌（Ru）和钼（Mo），已显示出作为催化剂的潜力，可提高NRR的效率。钌在催化活性方面表现出色，而钼则具有稳定性。正在探索诸如杂原子掺杂等策略来应对NRR挑战，特别是竞争性析氢反应。本综述深入探讨了用于电化学氨合成的钌基和钼基催化剂的进展，阐明了NRR机制，并倡导向更绿色的氨经济过渡。它还旨在阐明支撑NRR机制的核心原理。这种转变不仅旨在应对传统生产方法固有的挑战，还旨在与全球可持续发展的总体目标保持一致。
