Electrolyte Investigation for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from Li-Mediated N2 Reduction Reaction

Electrochemical synthesis integrated with renewable electricity is gaining attention as sustainable value-added chemical production. For instance, carbon and nitrogen cycles are proposed by electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction, conversion of biomass intermediates into high-value carbon compounds, or nitrogen reduction reactions for ammonia production. In these electrochemical synthesis reactions, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a competitive process, required to be effectively suppressed by catalyst, and electrolyte modulations. In this talk, I will discuss the potential of various electrocatalytic reactions and the importance of understanding interfacial interactions in these processes.1 We explore Li-mediated nitrogen reduction reactions for ammonia production and the importance of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation3. This process allows for the selective conversion of N2 gas to ammonia through Li-metal plating, with high ammonia generation Faradaic efficiency obtained in electrolytes containing F-containing components. Furthermore, the introduction of Ag in the electrolyte aids Li cycling, enhancing the Faradaic efficiency for ammonia production. Jeon, Y... Yun Jeong Hwang*. “Enhancing Ammonia Production by Ag Incorporation in Li-mediated Nitrogen Reduction Reactions”, ACS Energy Lett. 2024, 9, 4147−4152.