Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
Published on: August 23, 2017
A minireview on catalysts for photocatalytic N2 fixation to synthesize ammonia
Ping Qi1, Xiaoxu Gao1, Jian Wang1
1School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology Jinzhou 121001 P. R. China liuhuimin08@tsinghua.org.cn zhangqijian@tsinghua.org.cn.
Abstract:
Ammonia (NH3) is an important feedstock in chemical industry. Nowadays NH3 is mainly produced via the industrialized Haber-Bosch process, which requires substantial energy input, since it operates at high temperatures (400-650 °C) and high pressures (20-40 Mpa). From the energy conservation point of view, it is of great significance to explore an alternative avenue to synthesize NH3, which is in line with the concept of sustainable development. Very recently, photocatalytic N2 fixation (PNF) has been discovered as a safe and green approach to synthesize NH3, as it utilizes the inexhaustible solar energy and the abundant N2 in nature to synthesize NH3 under mild conditions. A highly efficient catalyst is the core of PNF. Up to now, extensive studies have been conducted to design efficient catalysts for PNF. Summarizing the catalysts reported for PNF and unraveling their reaction mechanisms could provide guidance for the design of better catalysts. In this review, we will illustrate the development of catalysts for PNF, including semiconductors, plasmonic metal-based catalysts, iron-based catalysts, ruthenium-based catalysts and several other catalysts, point out the remaining challenges and outline the future opportunities, with the aim to contribute to the development of PNF.
More Related Videos
08:40Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
08:30A Complete Method for Evaluating the Performance of Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Antibiotics in Environmental Remediation
Published on: October 6, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Catalysis
Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds
Though catalytic hydrogenation can reduce nitrobenzenes, the reduction is nonselective in the presence of other functional groups. For instance, if nitrobenzene contains an aldehyde group,...