Abstract
AbstractAmmonia (NH3) synthesis by the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is increasingly studied and proposed as an alternative process to overcome the disadvantages of Haber‐Bosch synthesis by a more energy‐efficient, carbon‐free, delocalized, and sustainable process. An ever‐increasing number of scientists are working on the improvement of the faradaic efficiency (FE) and NH3 production rate by developing novel catalysts, electrolyte concepts, and/or by contributing theoretical studies. The present Minireview provides a critical view on the interplay of different crucial aspects in NRR from the electrolyte, over the mechanism of catalytic activation of N2, to the full electrochemical cell. Five critical questions are asked, discussed, and answered, each coupled with a summary of recent developments in the respective field. This article is not supposed to be a complete summary of recent research about NRR but provides a rather critical personal view on the field. It is the major aim to give an overview over crucial influences on different length scales to shine light on the sweet spots into which room for revolutionary instead of incremental improvements may exist.
Highlights
Ammonia (NH3) synthesis by the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is increasingly studied and proposed as an alternative process to overcome the disadvantages of HaberBosch synthesis by a more energy-efficient, carbon-free, delocalized, and sustainable process
For that reason, nanostructured catalysts are intensely followed in order to achieve large specific surface area (SSA),[17] such as porous carbon-based materials, which can adsorb a large amount of N2.[18]. It is worth noting that spikes of the surface of materials can be employed to increase reagent concentration near the tips of electrodes.[19]
Due to the interplay between catalyst, mass and electron transfer, electrolyte and electrode design, catalyst development alone will not be able to make NRR a process that will be competitive to Haber-Bosch synthesis when it comes to scale
Summary
Ammonia (NH3) synthesis by the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is increasingly studied and proposed as an alternative process to overcome the disadvantages of HaberBosch synthesis by a more energy-efficient, carbon-free, delocalized, and sustainable process. An ever-increasing number of scientists are working on the improvement of the faradaic efficiency (FE) and NH3 production rate by developing novel catalysts, electrolyte concepts, and/or by contributing theoretical studies. The present Minireview provides a critical view on the interplay of different crucial aspects in NRR from the electrolyte, over the mechanism of catalytic activation of N2, to the full electrochemical cell. Five critical questions are asked, discussed, and answered, each coupled with a summary of recent developments in the respective field. NRR but provides a rather critical personal view on the field. It is the major aim to give an overview over crucial influences on different length scales to shine light on the sweet spots into which room for revolutionary instead of incremental improvements may exist
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