Sustainable Nitrogen Activation

This Faraday Discussion brings together different research communities by focussing on the topics of, heterogeneous catalytic and chemical looping routes to N2 activation, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic routes to N2 activation, enzymatic N2 activation, homogeneous N2 activation, and alternative routes to NH3 and its applications

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Industrial-scale ammonia synthesis, as accomplished by the Haber–Bosch process, was a landmark achievement of the 20th century. However, as currently practiced, including feedstock generation, the process accounts for 1–2% of global energy demand and contributes significant fossil-fuel-based CO2 emissions.


Accordingly, there is much contemporary interest in developing more sustainable ammonia synthesis routes which could, for example, be operated on the local scale employing renewable energy. The five themes of this Faraday Discussion unite different research communities around a topic of mutual interest and great societal importance, with particular emphasis placed upon the transfer of learning between the different themes.


The discussion focuses on the following themes:




Heterogeneous catalytic and chemical looping routes to N2 activation
Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic routes to N2 activation
Enzymatic N2 activation
Homogeneous N2 activation
Alternative routes to NH3 and its applications