Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction00:55

Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction

4.6K
Nitriles are reduced to amines in the presence of strong reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride through a typical nucleophilic acyl substitution. The reaction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent. The reducing agent acts as a source of hydride ions.
As shown below, the mechanism involves three steps. Firstly, the hydride ion acting as a nucleophile attacks the nitrile carbon to form an anion. In the second step, a second equivalent of the hydride ion attacks the anion to...
4.6K
Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria01:30

Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria

740
Ladder diagrams are useful tools for understanding redox equilibrium reactions, especially the effects of concentration changes on the electrochemical potential of the reaction. The vertical axis in the redox ladder diagrams represents the electrochemical potential, E. The area of predominance is demarcated using the Nernst equation.
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
740
The Nernst Equation02:59

The Nernst Equation

46.4K
Nonstandard Reaction Conditions
The interconnection between standard cell potentials and various thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy change ΔG° and equilibrium constant K has been previously explored. For example, a redox reaction involving zinc(II) and tin(II) ions at 1 M concentration with Eºcell = +0.291 V and ΔG° = −56.2 kJ is spontaneous.
46.4K
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

728
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
728
Concentration Cells02:41

Concentration Cells

25.4K
A concentration cell is a type of a  voltaic cell constructed by connecting two almost identical half-cells, both based on the same half-reaction and using the same electrode, differing only in the concentration of one redox species. A concentration cell's potential, therefore, is determined only by the concentration difference of the particular redox species.
Consider the following voltaic cell:
25.4K
Standard Electrode Potentials03:02

Standard Electrode Potentials

49.7K
On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
49.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Electrochemical ammonia oxidation using nickel copper hydroxide with H<sub>2</sub> recovery at high current density and selectivity.

Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC·2026
Same author

Highly Conductive Irreducible Electrolytes for Next-Generation Low-Potential Anodes.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Direct Air Capture with Integrated Electrochemical Conversion through Combined Solid and Liquid Sorbents.

ACS sustainable chemistry & engineering·2026
Same author

Electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction in the Presence of SO<sub>2</sub> Impurities on a Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Electrocatalyst.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Process Modeling and Techno-economic Analysis of an Integrated Large-Scale CO<sub>2</sub>/CO Electroreduction Plant to Produce C<sub>2+</sub> Products.

Industrial & engineering chemistry research·2026
Same author

Designing Fluorine-Free Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

6.5K

The Effect of Applied Potential on the Li-mediated Nitrogen Reduction Reaction Performance.

Boaz Izelaar1, Pranav Karanth2, Arash Toghraei3

  • 1Process and Energy Department, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat 39, 2628 CB, Delft, The Netherlands.

Nature Communications
|November 27, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Applied potential impacts lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) performance and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) properties. Higher potentials increase ammonia production efficiency by forming a LiF-rich SEI, but also cause instabilities.

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

18.9K
Characterizing Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer in Lactic Acid Bacteria with a Three-Electrode, Two-Chamber Bioelectrochemical System
10:23

Characterizing Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer in Lactic Acid Bacteria with a Three-Electrode, Two-Chamber Bioelectrochemical System

Published on: August 23, 2024

1.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

6.5K
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

18.9K
Characterizing Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer in Lactic Acid Bacteria with a Three-Electrode, Two-Chamber Bioelectrochemical System
10:23

Characterizing Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer in Lactic Acid Bacteria with a Three-Electrode, Two-Chamber Bioelectrochemical System

Published on: August 23, 2024

1.6K

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • The lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) is a promising pathway for green ammonia synthesis.
  • Understanding the influence of applied potential on Li-NRR and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is crucial for optimization.
  • The properties and formation mechanisms of the SEI layer significantly affect electrochemical reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of applied potential (Ewe) on Li-NRR performance.
  • To characterize the changes in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition and morphology with varying Ewe.
  • To elucidate the relationship between SEI properties and ammonia production efficiency (FE NH3).

Main Methods:

  • Potential-controlled experiments were conducted using a LiₓFePO₄ reference electrode.
  • Post-mortem characterization techniques were employed to analyze the SEI.
  • Faradaic efficiency for ammonia (FE NH3) was measured at different applied potentials.

Main Results:

  • Increasing applied potential (Ewe) led to higher LiF concentration in the SEI, originating from LiTFSI decomposition.
  • Faradaic efficiency for ammonia (FE NH3) increased with higher Ewe.
  • A transition from organic SEI to LiF-enriched SEI was observed, indicating kinetic barriers in SEI formation.
  • Thicker and denser SEI layers at higher potentials improved mass transport but caused current instabilities due to dynamic thickening and breakdown.

Conclusions:

  • Applied potential significantly influences Li-NRR performance by altering SEI composition and structure.
  • Optimizing SEI properties, particularly LiF content and morphology, is key to enhancing ammonia production.
  • Managing SEI stability is critical for achieving sustained and efficient Li-NRR.