A milder reaction to feed the world

• 成果类型: Editorial Material
• 署名作者: Rupprechter, Gunther
• 署名单位: Technische Universitat Wien
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-8986
• DOI: 10.1126/science.ado4095
• 发表日期: 2024-03-22
• 页码: 1295-1295
• 关键词: ammonia-synthesis; platinum

摘要

Surface science defies the complexity of ammonia synthesis At least 80% of the ammonia produced industrially supports crop growth around the world. Its synthesis, at scale, from nitrogen and hydrogen gas rests on the Haber-Bosch process, which requires high temperature (400 degrees to 500 degrees C), high pressure (150 to 200 bar), and an iron (Fe)-based catalyst whose performance is promoted by potassium-oxide and other oxides (1). However, ammonia production requires high energy and is the source of greenhouse gas emissions. In the quest for more active ammonia synthesis catalysts, milder reaction conditions and less energy consumption are equally important, especially in times of climate change and a transition to sustainable energy (2). On page 1357 of this issue, Zhang et al. (3) report a promising catalyst that operates at atmospheric pressure and 350 degrees C, and they also showcase how surface science, spectroscopy, and catalytic concepts merge to validate a catalyst that had been discovered earlier with computational catalysis (4).