1
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Li S, Zhou Y, Fu X, Pedersen JB, Saccoccio M, Andersen SZ, Enemark-Rasmussen K, Kempen PJ, Damsgaard CD, Xu A, Sažinas R, Mygind JBV, Deissler NH, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. Long-term continuous ammonia electrosynthesis. Nature 2024; 629:92-97. [PMID: 38503346 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07276-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Ammonia is crucial as a fertilizer and in the chemical industry and is considered to be a carbon-free fuel1. Ammonia electrosynthesis from nitrogen under ambient conditions offers an attractive alternative to the Haber-Bosch process2,3, and lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction represents a promising approach to continuous-flow ammonia electrosynthesis, coupling nitrogen reduction with hydrogen oxidation4. 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 cm2 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofeng Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob B Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Paul J Kempen
- National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christian Danvad Damsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aoni Xu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rokas Sažinas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Niklas H Deissler
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens K Nørskov
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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2
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Fu X, Xu A, Pedersen JB, Li S, Sažinas R, Zhou Y, Andersen SZ, Saccoccio M, Deissler NH, Mygind JBV, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. Phenol as proton shuttle and buffer for lithium-mediated ammonia electrosynthesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2417. [PMID: 38499554 PMCID: PMC10948763 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46803-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Ammonia is a crucial component in the production of fertilizers and various nitrogen-based compounds. Now, the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) has emerged as a promising approach for ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions. The proton shuttle plays a critical role in the proton transfer process during Li-NRR. However, the structure-activity relationship and design principles for effective proton shuttles have not yet been established in practical Li-NRR systems. Here, we propose a general procedure for verifying a true proton shuttle and established design principles for effective proton shuttles. We systematically evaluate several classes of proton shuttles in a continuous-flow reactor with hydrogen oxidation at the anode. Among the tested proton shuttles, phenol exhibits the highest Faradaic efficiency of 72 ± 3% towards ammonia, surpassing that of ethanol, which has been commonly used so far. Experimental investigations including operando isotope-labelled mass spectrometry proved the proton-shuttling capability of phenol. Further mass transport modeling sheds light on the mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aoni Xu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob B Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shaofeng Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rokas Sažinas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Niklas H Deissler
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens K Nørskov
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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3
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Fu X, Niemann VA, Zhou Y, Li S, Zhang K, Pedersen JB, Saccoccio M, Andersen SZ, Enemark-Rasmussen K, Benedek P, Xu A, Deissler NH, Mygind JBV, Nielander AC, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Nørskov JK, Jaramillo TF, Chorkendorff I. Calcium-mediated nitrogen reduction for electrochemical ammonia synthesis. Nat Mater 2024; 23:101-107. [PMID: 37884670 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01702-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is a key commodity chemical for the agricultural, textile and pharmaceutical industries, but its production via the Haber-Bosch process is carbon-intensive and centralized. Alternatively, an electrochemical method could enable decentralized, ambient NH3 production that can be paired with renewable energy. The first verified electrochemical method for NH3 synthesis was a process mediated by lithium (Li) in organic electrolytes. So far, however, elements other than Li remain unexplored in this process for potential benefits in efficiency, reaction rates, device design, abundance and stability. In our demonstration of a Li-free system, we found that calcium can mediate the reduction of nitrogen for NH3 synthesis. We verified the calcium-mediated process using a rigorous protocol and achieved an NH3 Faradaic efficiency of 40 ± 2% using calcium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)borate (Ca[B(hfip)4]2) as the electrolyte. Our results offer the possibility of using abundant materials for the electrochemical production of NH3, a critical chemical precursor and promising energy vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Valerie A Niemann
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shaofeng Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob B Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Benedek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Aoni Xu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Niklas H Deissler
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Adam C Nielander
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens K Nørskov
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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4
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Bjarke Valbaek Mygind J, Pedersen JB, Li K, Deissler NH, Saccoccio M, Fu X, Li S, Sažinas R, Andersen SZ, Enemark-Rasmussen K, Vesborg PCK, Doganli-Kibsgaard J, Chorkendorff I. Is Ethanol Essential for the Lithium-Mediated Nitrogen Reduction Reaction? ChemSusChem 2023; 16:e202301011. [PMID: 37681646 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) is a promising method for decentralized ammonia synthesis using renewable energy. An organic electrolyte is utilized to combat the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, and lithium is plated to activate the inert N2 molecule. Ethanol is commonly used as a proton shuttle to provide hydrogen to the activated nitrogen. In this study, we investigate the role of ethanol as a proton shuttle in an electrolyte containing tetrahydrofuran and 0.2 M lithium perchlorate. Particularly designed electrochemical experiments show that ethanol is necessary for a good solid-electrolyte interphase but not for the synthesis of ammonia. In addition, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) demonstrates that the SEI formation at the onset of lithium plating is of specific importance. Chemical batch synthesis of ammonia combined with real-time mass spectrometry confirms that protons can be shuttled from the anode to the cathode by other species even without ethanol. Moreover, it raises questions regarding the electrochemical nature of Li-NRR. Finally, we discuss electrolyte stability and electrochemical electrode potentials, highlighting the role of ethanol on electrolyte degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jakob B Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Katja Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Niklas H Deissler
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shaofeng Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rokas Sažinas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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5
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Fu X, Pedersen JB, Zhou Y, Saccoccio M, Li S, Sažinas R, Li K, Andersen SZ, Xu A, Deissler NH, Mygind JBV, Wei C, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. Continuous-flow electrosynthesis of ammonia by nitrogen reduction and hydrogen oxidation. Science 2023; 379:707-712. [PMID: 36795804 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf4403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia is a critical component in fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals and is an ideal, carbon-free fuel. Recently, lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction has proven to be a promising route for electrochemical ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions. In this work, we report a continuous-flow electrolyzer equipped with 25-square centimeter-effective area gas diffusion electrodes wherein nitrogen reduction is coupled with hydrogen oxidation. We show that the classical catalyst platinum is not stable for hydrogen oxidation in the organic electrolyte, but a platinum-gold alloy lowers the anode potential and avoids the decremental decomposition of the organic electrolyte. At optimal operating conditions, we achieve, at 1 bar, a faradaic efficiency for ammonia production of up to 61 ± 1% and an energy efficiency of 13 ± 1% at a current density of -6 milliamperes per square centimeter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob B Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shaofeng Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rokas Sažinas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Katja Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aoni Xu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Niklas H Deissler
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Chao Wei
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens K Nørskov
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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6
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Li S, Zhou Y, Li K, Saccoccio M, Sažinas R, Andersen SZ, Pedersen JB, Fu X, Shadravan V, Chakraborty D, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PC, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. Electrosynthesis of ammonia with high selectivity and high rates via engineering of the solid-electrolyte interphase. Joule 2022; 6:2083-2101. [PMID: 36188748 PMCID: PMC9511958 DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia is a large-scale commodity essential to fertilizer production, but the Haber-Bosch process leads to massive emissions of carbon dioxide. Electrochemical ammonia synthesis is an attractive alternative pathway, but the process is still limited by low ammonia production rate and faradaic efficiency. Herein, guided by our theoretical model, we present a highly efficient lithium-mediated process enabled by using different lithium salts, leading to the formation of a uniform solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on a porous copper electrode. The uniform lithium-fluoride-enriched SEI layer provides an ammonia production rate of 2.5 ± 0.1 μmol s-1 cmgeo -2 at a current density of -1 A cmgeo -2 with 71% ± 3% faradaic efficiency under 20 bar nitrogen. Experimental X-ray analysis reveals that the lithium tetrafluoroborate electrolyte induces the formation of a compact and uniform SEI layer, which facilitates homogeneous lithium plating, suppresses the undesired hydrogen evolution as well as electrolyte decomposition, and enhances the nitrogen reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofeng Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Katja Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rokas Sažinas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z. Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob B. Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vahid Shadravan
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C.K. Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens K. Nørskov
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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7
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Sažinas R, Li K, Andersen SZ, Saccoccio M, Li S, Pedersen JB, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Chakraborty D, Chorkendorff I. Oxygen-Enhanced Chemical Stability of Lithium-Mediated Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:4605-4611. [PMID: 35588323 PMCID: PMC9150109 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Although oxygen added to nonaqueous lithium-mediated electrochemical ammonia synthesis (LiMEAS) enhances Faradaic efficiency, its effect on chemical stability and byproducts requires understanding. Therefore, standardized high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance were employed. Different volatile degradation products have been qualitatively analyzed and quantified in tetrahydrofuran electrolyte by adding some oxygen to LiMEAS. Electrodeposited lithium and reduction/oxidation of the solvent on the electrodes produced organic byproducts to different extents, depending on the oxygen concentration, and resulted in less decomposition products after LiMEAS with oxygen. The main organic component in solid-electrolyte interphase was polytetrahydrofuran, which disappeared by adding an excess of oxygen (3 mol %) to LiMEAS. The total number of byproducts detected was 14, 9, and 8 with oxygen concentrations of 0, 0.8, and 3 mol %, respectively. The Faradaic efficiency and chemical stability of the LiMEAS have been greatly improved with addition of optimal 0.8 mol % oxygen at 20 bar total pressure.
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8
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Li K, Andersen SZ, Statt MJ, Saccoccio M, Bukas VJ, Krempl K, Sažinas R, Pedersen JB, Shadravan V, Zhou Y, Chakraborty D, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. Enhancement of lithium-mediated ammonia synthesis by addition of oxygen. Science 2021; 374:1593-1597. [PMID: 34941415 DOI: 10.1126/science.abl4300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Michael J Statt
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mattia Saccoccio
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vanessa J Bukas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kevin Krempl
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rokas Sažinas
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob B Pedersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vahid Shadravan
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yuanyuan Zhou
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens K Nørskov
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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9
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Schwalbe JA, Statt MJ, Chosy C, Singh AR, Rohr BA, Nielander AC, Andersen SZ, McEnaney JM, Baker JG, Jaramillo TF, Nørskov JK, Cargnello M. A Combined Theory‐Experiment Analysis of the Surface Species in Lithium‐Mediated NH
3
Electrosynthesis. ChemElectroChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202000265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay A. Schwalbe
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Michael J. Statt
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Cullen Chosy
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Aayush R. Singh
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Brian A. Rohr
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Adam C. Nielander
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Suzanne Z. Andersen
- Department of Physics Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Joshua M. McEnaney
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Jon G. Baker
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Thomas F. Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Jens K. Nørskov
- Department of Physics Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Matteo Cargnello
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
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10
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Schwalbe JA, Statt MJ, Chosy C, Singh AR, Rohr BA, Nielander AC, Andersen SZ, McEnaney JM, Baker JG, Jaramillo TF, Norskov JK, Cargnello M. Front Cover: A Combined Theory‐Experiment Analysis of the Surface Species in Lithium‐Mediated NH
3
Electrosynthesis (ChemElectroChem 7/2020). ChemElectroChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202000206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay A. Schwalbe
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Michael J. Statt
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Cullen Chosy
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Aayush R. Singh
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Brian A. Rohr
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Adam C. Nielander
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Suzanne Z. Andersen
- Department of Physics Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Joshua M. McEnaney
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Jon G. Baker
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Thomas F. Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Jens K. Norskov
- Department of Physics Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Matteo Cargnello
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
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11
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Schwalbe JA, Statt MJ, Chosy C, Singh AR, Rohr BA, Nielander AC, Andersen SZ, McEnaney JM, Baker JG, Jaramillo TF, Norskov JK, Cargnello M. A Combined Theory‐Experiment Analysis of the Surface Species in Lithium‐Mediated NH
3
Electrosynthesis. ChemElectroChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.201902124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay A. Schwalbe
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Michael J. Statt
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Cullen Chosy
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Aayush R. Singh
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Brian A. Rohr
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Adam C. Nielander
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Suzanne Z. Andersen
- Department of Physics Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Joshua M. McEnaney
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Jon G. Baker
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Thomas F. Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Jens K. Norskov
- Department of Physics Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Matteo Cargnello
- Department of Chemical Engineering and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
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Andersen SZ, Čolić V, Yang S, Schwalbe JA, Nielander AC, McEnaney JM, Enemark-Rasmussen K, Baker JG, Singh AR, Rohr BA, Statt MJ, Blair SJ, Mezzavilla S, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Cargnello M, Bent SF, Jaramillo TF, Stephens IEL, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. Author Correction: A rigorous electrochemical ammonia synthesis protocol with quantitative isotope measurements. Nature 2019; 574:E5. [PMID: 31554972 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1625-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
An Amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Viktor Čolić
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sungeun Yang
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.,Center for Energy Materials Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jay A Schwalbe
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Adam C Nielander
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joshua M McEnaney
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jon G Baker
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aayush R Singh
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brian A Rohr
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Statt
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sarah J Blair
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Matteo Cargnello
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stacey F Bent
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jens K Nørskov
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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13
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Nielander AC, McEnaney JM, Schwalbe JA, Baker JG, Blair SJ, Wang L, Pelton JG, Andersen SZ, Enemark-Rasmussen K, Čolić V, Yang S, Bent SF, Cargnello M, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Chorkendorff I, Jaramillo TF. A Versatile Method for Ammonia Detection in a Range of Relevant Electrolytes via Direct Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Techniques. ACS Catal 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.9b00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam C. Nielander
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Joshua M. McEnaney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jay A. Schwalbe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jon G. Baker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Sarah J. Blair
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jeffrey G. Pelton
- QB3 Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Suzanne Z. Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 311, Fysikvej, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kasper Enemark-Rasmussen
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Building 207, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Viktor Čolić
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 311, Fysikvej, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sungeun Yang
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 311, Fysikvej, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Stacey F. Bent
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Matteo Cargnello
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 311, Fysikvej, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C. K. Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 311, Fysikvej, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 311, Fysikvej, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas F. Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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14
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Andersen SZ, Čolić V, Yang S, Schwalbe JA, Nielander AC, McEnaney JM, Enemark-Rasmussen K, Baker JG, Singh AR, Rohr BA, Statt MJ, Blair SJ, Mezzavilla S, Kibsgaard J, Vesborg PCK, Cargnello M, Bent SF, Jaramillo TF, Stephens IEL, Nørskov JK, Chorkendorff I. A rigorous electrochemical ammonia synthesis protocol with quantitative isotope measurements. Nature 2019; 570:504-508. [PMID: 31117118 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1260-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 481] [Impact Index Per Article: 96.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen under mild conditions using renewable electricity is an attractive alternative1-4 to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, which dominates industrial ammonia production. However, there are considerable scientific and technical challenges5,6 facing the electrochemical alternative, and most experimental studies reported so far have achieved only low selectivities and conversions. The amount of ammonia produced is usually so small that it cannot be firmly attributed to electrochemical nitrogen fixation7-9 rather than contamination from ammonia that is either present in air, human breath or ion-conducting membranes9, or generated from labile nitrogen-containing compounds (for example, nitrates, amines, nitrites and nitrogen oxides) that are typically present in the nitrogen gas stream10, in the atmosphere or even in the catalyst itself. Although these sources of experimental artefacts are beginning to be recognized and managed11,12, concerted efforts to develop effective electrochemical nitrogen reduction processes would benefit from benchmarking protocols for the reaction and from a standardized set of control experiments designed to identify and then eliminate or quantify the sources of contamination. Here we propose a rigorous procedure using 15N2 that enables us to reliably detect and quantify the electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. We demonstrate experimentally the importance of various sources of contamination, and show how to remove labile nitrogen-containing compounds from the nitrogen gas as well as how to perform quantitative isotope measurements with cycling of 15N2 gas to reduce both contamination and the cost of isotope measurements. Following this protocol, we find that no ammonia is produced when using the most promising pure-metal catalysts for this reaction in aqueous media, and we successfully confirm and quantify ammonia synthesis using lithium electrodeposition in tetrahydrofuran13. The use of this rigorous protocol should help to prevent false positives from appearing in the literature, thus enabling the field to focus on viable pathways towards the practical electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Z Andersen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Viktor Čolić
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sungeun Yang
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.,Center for Energy Materials Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jay A Schwalbe
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Adam C Nielander
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joshua M McEnaney
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jon G Baker
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aayush R Singh
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brian A Rohr
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Statt
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sarah J Blair
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter C K Vesborg
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Matteo Cargnello
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stacey F Bent
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jens K Nørskov
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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