Green Ammonia Synthesis Using Electrolytes : Indian Scientists Unveil

Green Ammonia Synthesis Using Electrolytes : Indian Scientists Unveil

Here’s an article posted in swarajyamog that talks about the breakthrough unveiled by the Indian scientists for efficient Ammonia synthesis.

According to the article,

• Indian scientists have developed a new aqueous electrolyte to make electrochemical ammonia synthesis more efficient.
• The new electrolyte (NaBF4) acts as an N2-carrier and co-catalyst to deliver high yield of ammonia (NH3) at ambient experimental conditions.
• The breakthrough could benefit green energy and hydrogen industries by reducing carbon emissions in the fertilizer industry and providing a promising solution for the production of green energy
• The researchers have filed a patent for this work and are now working on an electrolyser to achieve a rapid rate of ammonia production at an industrial scale.

Let’s delve into the details and expand upon this fascinating advancement:

Current Challenges in Ammonia Synthesis:

1. Nitrogen Solubility Issues: Traditional electrochemical methods face challenges due to the poor solubility of nitrogen gas (N2) in aqueous electrolytes, hindering efficient ammonia synthesis.
2. Competitive Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER): The hydrogen evolution reaction competes with nitrogen reduction, impacting the yield of ammonia.

Novel Electrolyte Solution:

• Introduction of NaBF4 Electrolyte: Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), developed an innovative aqueous electrolyte based on NaBF4.
• Dual Functionality: NaBF4 not only acts as an N2 carrier but also functions as a co-catalyst, alongside transition metal-doped nanocarbon (MnN4), enhancing ammonia yield.
• Ambient Conditions: Importantly, this electrolyte enables high-yield ammonia production under ambient experimental conditions, a significant advancement from previous methods requiring harsh conditions.

Research Insights:

• Focus on Electrolyte Development: While catalyst development has been a primary focus in past research, this breakthrough underscores the importance of electrolyte innovation, with only 4.7% of research efforts historically directed towards electrolyte improvements.
• High NH3 Production Rate: The developed electrolyte facilitates NH3 production rates approaching industrial scale, surpassing many standard catalysts in other electrolyte media.
• NH3 Source Confirmation: Thorough research confirms that the primary source of NH3 is the electrochemical reduction of purged N2 gas, emphasizing the efficacy of this novel electrolyte.

Implications and Future Directions:

• Sustainable Ammonia Production: This innovation holds promise for industries involved in green energy and hydrogen production, contributing to sustainable development goals.
• Patent and Further Research: With a filed patent, the researchers are advancing towards developing an electrolyser for rapid ammonia production at an industrial scale, indicating real-world applicability and commercial potential.