Electrosynthesis of ammonia with high selectivity and high rates via engineering of the solid-electrolyte interphase

A Decade of Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis

“…MacFarlane and Simonov and colleagues were able to suppress electrolyte decomposition through tuning the local physicochemical properties of the electrode–electrolyte interface with an imide-based lithium-salt electrolyte. Likewise, Chorkendorff and colleagues showed this is also possible through the use of a highly porous Cu electrode, at elevated current density (−1 A cm geo‑2 ) . This is the first demonstration of the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction at industrially relevant current densities.…”

“…Likewise, Chorkendorff and colleagues showed this is also possible through the use of a highly porous Cu electrode, at elevated current density (−1 A cm geo-2 ). 20 This is the first demonstration of the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction at industrially relevant current densities. With these impressive metrics, the field has undoubtedly reached a significant milestone, and in a sense has reached a "North Pole"-like discovery.…”

SrxTi0.6Fe0.4O3−δ (x = 1.0, 0.9) catalysts for ammonia synthesis via proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (PCECs)

“…Industrial ammonia is synthesized via the Haber-Bosch method under high temperatures and pressures, which leads to high energy consumption and CO 2 emissions. 3,4 In contrast, the electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia is a green, eco-friendly, and pollution-free method for reacting nitrogen and hydrogen or nitrogen and water, assuming that renewable energy is used to generate the required electricity. [5][6][7] Electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis methods can be used to avoid the high-pressure conditions of traditional ammonia production, and ammonia synthesis under atmospheric pressure is possible.…”

A Versatile Li0.5FePO4 Reference Electrode for Nonaqueous Electrochemical Conversion Technologies

“…We note that the choice of RE was relatively inconsequential in understanding the Li-mediated N 2 R process in the early stages of the field, as early studies featured total cell potentials of ∼20 V, making fluctuations of hundreds of millivolts in the RE potential negligible. However, recent advances in optimizing electrolyte degradation, studying solid–electrolyte interphase formation, , identifying prominent reactions at the anode, and the application of high surface area electrodes , have enabled the decrease of the full cell potential to about 4–5 V, making a stable RE much more crucial. Owing to the advantages of LFP, we recommend that researchers consider transitioning from Pt and Ag/AgCl to LFP REs when studying nonaqueous electrochemical systems.…”