Nitrogenase inspired nitrogen electroreduction to ammonia

本研究项目的目的是实现一种电化学界面，该界面可以在100℃以下的大气压下有效地将氮还原为氨和其他含氮化学品。目前的氮气减排是通过哈伯-博世工艺在150巴和400摄氏度的集中式设施中进行的，消耗了全球1%的巨大化石燃料。在环境条件下，氮气的电化学还原可能更具吸引力。它将在使用地点进行，并由可再生能源提供动力，如果该过程足够有效，氨甚至可以用作能源载体。到目前为止，实验只能减少微量的氮素。我们的目标是产生大量资金。更具体地说，该项目的目标是：(A)合成和测试碳基气体扩散电极，用于在加速传质的条件下将氮气还原为氨；(B)开发一种固氮酶激发的催化剂，该催化剂可以在不借助锂电镀电位的情况下，将氮气定量(10ppm)还原为NH3。

The aim of this research project is to realise an electrochemical interface that can efficiently reduce of dinitrogen to ammonia and other nitrogen-containing chemicals, below 100 C and at atmospheric pressures. Current N2 reduction occurs via the Haber-Bosch process, in centralised facilities at >150 bar and >400 C, consuming a colossal >1% of global fossil fuels. The electrochemical reduction of N2 under ambient conditions could be far more attractive. It would take place at the point-of-use and be powered by renewable energy If the process were efficient enough, ammonia could even be used as an energy carrier. Until now, experiments have only been able to reduce trace amounts of dinitrogen. Our aim is to yield bulk amounts. More specifically the project objectives are to: (a) synthesise and test a carbon-based gas diffusion electrode for nitrogen reduction to ammonia under conditions of accelerated mass transport and (b) develop a nitrogenase inspired catalyst, on a solid material, that can reduce N2 to NH3 in quantitative amounts (10 ppm) without resorting to lithium plating potentials.