Probing ammonia production in real time using electrochemical mass spectrometry

目前通过哈伯博世工艺的氨合成产生的二氧化碳排放量占全球二氧化碳排放量的1%，这是因为它依赖于甲烷产生的氢气。在室温和常压下，电化学将氮气还原为NH3的研究日益受到人们的关注。如果它由可再生能源提供动力，它将实现可持续的NH3生产，给化肥行业带来革命性的变化。如果这一过程足够高效，它甚至可以提供一种生产无二氧化碳、高能量密度的可持续燃料的方法。该项目的目的是阐明催化剂材料(即电催化剂)和电解液的作用，并开发能够有效减少氮气的新系统。它将涉及(A)催化剂的合成和表征(B)测试氢析出和氮气还原(C)使用一种新的芯片上电化学质谱法测量产物。

Current ammonia synthesis, via the Haber Bosch process, produces >1% of global CO2 emissions, due to its reliance on methane derived H2. There is a burgeoning interest in electrochemical N2 reduction to NH3 at room temperature and under ambient pressures. Should it be powered by renewable energy, it would enable sustainable NH3 production, revolutionising the fertiliser industry. Should the process be efficient enough, it would even provide a means of producing a CO2-free energy-dense sustainable fuel. The aim of this project is to elucidate the role of the catalyst material (i.e. the electrocatalyst) and electrolyte and develop new systems that enable efficient nitrogen reduction. It will involve (a) catalyst synthesis and characterisation (b) testing H2 evolution and N2 reduction (c) measuring the products using a novel on-chip electrochemical mass spectrometry method.