New Insights into Electrocatalysis of Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia

Presented on October 31, 2018 during the NH3 Fuel Conference 2018

Authors Alex Schechter Revanasiddappa Manjunatha Ariel University

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Abstract

Ammonia was electrochemically produced from nitrogen and water using a ruthenium–platinum (RuPt) alloy catalyst cathode and a nickel anode at ambient pressure and room temperature. The rate of ammonia formation was 5.1 × 10⁻⁹ gNH3 s⁻¹ cm⁻² with a 13.2% faradaic efficiency at an applied potential of 0.123 V vs. RHE; it reached 1.08 × 10⁻⁸ gNH3 s⁻¹ cm⁻² at 0.023 V. Ammonia production was investigated under selected potentials and temperatures. Real-time direct electrochemical mass spectrometric (DEMS) analysis of the evolved gases was performed at various applied potentials. In general, the mass-to-charge ratio signals of hydrogen and ammonia were detected, and their intensities increased with increasing potentials; however, there was no trace of a hydrazine signal. Compared to metallic ruthenium and platinum catalysts, RuPt showed a synergistic effect toward electrochemical formation of ammonia due to co-catalysis.

Topics Electrochemical Ammonia Energy Efficiency

Authors [email protected] [email protected]

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