Dual nitrogen and oxygen vacancy-enhanced plasma catalysis for mild NH₃ synthesis

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis is a sustainable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process.
• Decentralized ammonia production is crucial for sustainable agriculture and energy storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel catalyst design for enhanced plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis.
• To investigate the role of dual vacancies in the Mars-van Krevelen (MvK) pathway.

Main Methods:

• Designed a TiN/TiO2 catalyst with dual vacancies.
• Investigated the Mars-van Krevelen (MvK) pathway using the novel catalyst.
• Quantified ammonia yield under mild plasma conditions.

Main Results:

• Achieved a superhigh ammonia yield of 226.3 mg h-1 g-1.
• The dual-vacancy catalyst significantly enhanced the MvK pathway.
• Demonstrated high catalytic activity under mild conditions.

Conclusions:

• The dual-vacancy catalyst design is effective for high-efficiency ammonia synthesis.
• Plasma-assisted synthesis with this catalyst is a promising sustainable alternative.
• This strategy surpasses the performance of most reported catalysts.