Long-term continuous ammonia electrosynthesis.

Autor: Li S; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Zhou Y; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Fu X; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Pedersen JB; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Saccoccio M; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Andersen SZ; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Enemark-Rasmussen K; Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Kempen PJ; National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Damsgaard CD; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.; National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Xu A; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Sažinas R; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Mygind JBV; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Deissler NH; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Kibsgaard J; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Vesborg PCK; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark., Nørskov JK; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. jkno@dtu.dk., Chorkendorff I; Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. ibchork@fysik.dtu.dk.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature [Nature] 2024 May; Vol. 629 (8010), pp. 92-97. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 19.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07276-5
Abstrakt: Ammonia is crucial as a fertilizer and in the chemical industry and is considered to be a carbon-free fuel 1 . Ammonia electrosynthesis from nitrogen under ambient conditions offers an attractive alternative to the Haber-Bosch process 2,3 , and lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction represents a promising approach to continuous-flow ammonia electrosynthesis, coupling nitrogen reduction with hydrogen oxidation 4 . However, tetrahydrofuran, which is commonly used as a solvent, impedes long-term ammonia production owing to polymerization and volatility problems. Here we show that a chain-ether-based electrolyte enables long-term continuous ammonia synthesis. We find that a chain-ether-based solvent exhibits non-polymerization properties and a high boiling point (162 °C) and forms a compact solid-electrolyte interphase layer on the gas diffusion electrode, facilitating ammonia release in the gas phase and ensuring electrolyte stability. We demonstrate 300 h of continuous operation in a flow electrolyser with a 25 cm 2 electrode at 1 bar pressure and room temperature, and achieve a current-to-ammonia efficiency of 64 ± 1% with a gas-phase ammonia content of approximately 98%. Our results highlight the crucial role of the solvent in long-term continuous ammonia synthesis.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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