Novel Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis from Gaseous Nitrogen and Hydrogen Under Mild Operating Conditions

This research developed new ways to produce ammonia—an essential chemical for fertilizers—using less energy and fewer CO2 emissions. By using innovative liquid metal and plasmonic metals catalysts, it showed that ammonia can be made more sustainably under mild conditions, even at ambient pressure. The study created a liquid gallium-copper catalyst and a sunlight-driven silver nanoparticle catalyst that work efficiently at lower temperatures and pressures. These approaches offer alternatives to the traditional energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. The results provide practical strategies to reduce the environmental impact of ammonia production and support the global shift to greener chemical manufacturing.