Ammonia synthesis by N 2 and steam electrolysis in molten hydroxide suspensions of nanoscale Fe 2 O 3

Abstract

Taking carbon out of the ammonial recipe The reaction used to make ammonia for synthetic fertilizer requires hydrogen. Nowadays, that hydrogen is stripped from methane, creating CO 2 as a by-product. Licht et al. demonstrate a relatively efficient electrochemical process in which water and nitrogen react directly to form ammonia. The approach removes the need for an independent hydrogen generation step. The process takes place in molten hydroxide salt and requires a nanostructured iron oxide–derived catalyst. Although the catalyst suspension is currently only stable for a few hours, the protocol points to a way to produce ammonia from purely renewable resources. Science , this issue p. 637