Mechanocatalytic synthesis of ammonia at room temperature and atmospheric pressure
October 28, 2021
In an Angewandte-paper hot off the press, Steffen Reichle, Michael Felderhoff and Ferdi Schüth report the mechanocatalytic synthesis of ammonia over a cesium-promoted iron catalyst under mild conditions. Ammonia synthesis normally requires temperatures of 400-500°C and pressures of 150-300 bar. Ammonia is the basis of all nitrogen-containing fertilizers and is under discussion as transport and storage molecule for hydrogen in future energy systems. It is estimated that currently about 2 % of the global energy demand is used for ammonia synthesis.
S. Reichle, M. Felderhoff, F. Schüth. "Mechanocatalytic Room-Temperature Synthesis of Ammonia from Its Elements Down to Atmospheric Pressure", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., DOI: 10.1002/anie.202112095
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a scientific conference will be held in Mülheim next year. Our institute will of course be taking part.
Patrick Cramer will be the new president of the Max Planck Society from June 2023. He has now paid our campus in Mülheim a visit to speak to the directors and listen to the employees concerns and wishes.