Nitrogenase inspired nitrogen electroreduction to ammonia

这个研究项目的目的是实现一个电化学界面，可以在低于100摄氏度和大气压下有效地将二氮还原为氨和其他含氮化学物质。目前的氮气还原是通过Haber-Bosch工艺进行的，在集中的设施中，温度为150巴，温度为400摄氏度，消耗了全球化石燃料的1%。在环境条件下电化学还原N2可能更有吸引力。它将在使用点进行，并由可再生能源提供动力。如果这个过程足够有效，氨甚至可以用作能量载体。到目前为止，实验只能减少微量的二氮。我们的目标是大批量生产。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，用于在加速质量传输条件下将氮还原为氨；(b)在固体材料上开发一种氮酶激发催化剂，该催化剂可以将N2定量（10 ppm）还原为NH3，而无需诉诸锂电镀电位。

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.