Role for Standardization in Electrocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis: A Conversation with Leo Liu, Lauren Greenlee, and Douglas MacFarlane

Electrochemical ammonia synthesis: Mechanistic understanding and catalyst design

“…This direct N 2 reduction process is supposed to be less capital intensive than a combined water electrolysis with Haber-Bosch process, which is only about 40% energy efficient. 9 Electrochemical N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) to generate NH 3 was mostly undertaken at high temperatures (above 500 C) using proton-conductive solid electrolytes before 2000. 10 However, this high-temperature route suffers from bottlenecks of low electronic and/or ionic conductivity in the electrolyte and NH 3 decomposition, in addition to the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).…”

Nitrogenase inspired artificial photosynthetic nitrogen fixation

“…137 Another concern arises from the origin of NH 3 , a common contaminant from the glassware, the atmosphere, even the protective gloves of the experiment conductor, and possibly an artifact from atmospheric NO x reduction reaction. 138,139 Researchers are now urged to carry out stringent control experiments, especially 15 N-isotope labeling experiments. 138,140 These advocates will not only improve the reproducibility of photo-NRR results but also promote the exploration of more sensitive, selective, effective, and robust NH 3 detection methodologies, such as a recently reported 1 H NMR method, which could non-invasively quantify 15 NH 3 or 14 NH 3 in 20 min with a detection limit of 5-10 mM.…”

Photocatalytic N2 Reduction: Uncertainties in the Determination of Ammonia Production

“…Besides, whether the low ammonia yield could be ascribed to actual N 2 reduction or false positives remains controversial. − Serious interference effect was found on the NH 4 + yield determined by Nessler’s reagent method when 10 vol % methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol was used as the sacrificial agent . In addition, the accuracy of Nessler’s reagent method and the indophenol-blue method used for the quantitative determination of NH 4 + in solution would be adversely affected by the pH of the solution as well as the impure ions and other molecules in solution .…”