Dissociating stable nitrogen molecules under mild conditions by cyclic strain engineering

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Dissociating stable diatomic nitrogen molecules (N₂) typically requires extreme high pressure and high temperature.
• This limits the practical applications and energy efficiency of nitrogen fixation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dissociation of N₂ under mild conditions using cyclic strain engineering.
• To explore a novel method for activating and dissociating N₂ that bypasses harsh reaction parameters.

Main Methods:

• Application of cyclic strain engineering to diatomic nitrogen (N₂).
• Utilizing graphite as a receptor for dissociated nitrogen (N*).
• Conducting reactions at pressures below 1 bar and temperatures around 40°C.

Main Results:

• Successful dissociation of N₂ under mild conditions (pressure < 1 bar, temperature ~40°C).
• Achieved a high normalized loading of N to C (16.3 at/at %) using graphite as a receptor.
• Demonstrated that cyclic strain alters nitrogen binding energy, facilitating adsorption and desorption.

Conclusions:

• Cyclic strain engineering provides an efficient pathway for N₂ dissociation at ambient conditions.
• This method offers a low-energy alternative for nitrogen activation.
• Potential for direct synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds from N₂ is significantly enhanced.