title: RETRACTED: Ammonia synthesis. Ammonia synthesis by N₂ and steam electrolysis in molten hydroxide suspensions of nanoscale Fe₂O₃.
abstract: The Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia for fertilizer currently relies on carbon-intensive steam reforming of methane as a hydrogen source. We present an electrochemical pathway in which ammonia is produced by electrolysis of air and steam in a molten hydroxide suspension of nano-Fe2O3. At 200°C in an electrolyte with a molar ratio of 0.5 NaOH/0.5 KOH, ammonia is produced at 1.2 volts (V) under 2 milliamperes per centimeter squared (mA cm(-2)) of applied current at coulombic efficiency of 35% (35% of the applied current results in the six-electron conversion of N2 and water to ammonia, and excess H2 is cogenerated with the ammonia). At 250°C and 25 bar of steam pressure, the electrolysis voltage necessary for 2 mA cm(-2) current density decreased to 1.0 V.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. slicht@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Licht
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Baochen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Baohui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Fang-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Shuzhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005308:Fertilizers; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013227:Steam
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005308:Fertilizers; D006878:Hydroxides; D013227:Steam; C000499:ferric oxide; D000641:Ammonia; C031356:hydroxide ion; D009584:Nitrogen