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Related Concept Videos

Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

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The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
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Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines01:30

Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines

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Alkylation is one of the methods used to prepare amines. Direct alkylation of ammonia or a primary amine with an alkyl halide gives polyalkylated amines along with a quaternary ammonium salt through successive SN2 reactions. This process of making the quaternary salt through the direct alkylation method is called exhaustive alkylation.
Each alkylation step makes the nitrogen center more nucleophilic, which triggers successive alkylations until a quaternary ammonium salt is formed. Considering...
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Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis01:28

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Direct alkylation is not a suitable method for synthesizing amines because it produces polyalkylated products. Gabriel synthesis is the most preferred method to exclusively make primary amines. The method uses phthalimide, which contains a protected form of nitrogen that participates in alkylation only once to predominantly give primary amines.
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Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

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Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
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Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
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Decoding technical multi-promoted ammonia synthesis catalysts.

Luis Sandoval-Díaz1, Raoul Blume2, Kassiogé Dembélé3

  • 1Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society, Berlin, Germany. lesandovaldi@fhi-berlin.mpg.de.

Nature Communications
|August 21, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers revealed the active structure of complex ammonia synthesis catalysts. The iron-based catalyst, crucial for the Haber-Bosch process, is stabilized by promoters, enhancing its stability, activity, and resistance to poisoning.

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Area of Science:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Industrial ammonia production relies on the Haber-Bosch process using iron-based catalysts.
  • Understanding structure-activity relationships in complex industrial catalysts has been limited due to simplified model systems.
  • A detailed understanding of technical catalyst evolution and promoter roles is crucial for process optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural evolution of complex, multi-promoted ammonia synthesis catalysts under operando conditions.
  • To elucidate the role of promoters in catalyst activation, stability, and performance.
  • To establish clear structure-activity correlations for industrial ammonia synthesis catalysts.

Main Methods:

  • Operando scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize structural changes during catalysis.
  • Near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) to probe surface composition and electronic states.
  • Analysis of complex, multi-promoted industrial catalyst formulations.

Main Results:

  • Identified catalyst activation as a critical step involving the formation of the active structure.
  • Discovered the active structure comprises a nanodispersion of iron (Fe) decorated with mobile potassium (K)-containing adsorbates, termed "ammonia K".
  • Revealed that mineral cementitious phases containing Al, Si, Ca, and Fe oxides stabilize the porous catalyst structure.

Conclusions:

  • The synergistic action of multiple promoters is key to the superior performance of industrial ammonia synthesis catalysts.
  • Promoters contribute simultaneously to structural stability, hierarchical architecture, catalytic activity, and resistance to poisoning.
  • The identified "ammonia K" structure and promoter synergism provide critical insights for designing next-generation ammonia synthesis catalysts.