Electrolyte design for long-run continuous ammonia electrosynthesis

Lithium-mediated NH3 electrosynthesis usually exhibits a higher yield rate and efficiency compared with directly electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction because of a higher affinity for N2 of metallic lithium. However, it is challenging to achieve long-run preparation and industrial application due to poor stability and mass transfer efficiency. Recently, a platinum-gold alloy-catalyzed nitrogen electroreduction to ammonia coupling with hydrogen oxidation was reported by Chorkendorff and colleagues. Attributing to the use of flow electrolyzer and chain-ether-based electrolyte, the long-term electrosynthesis of 300 h was achieved. Lithium-mediated NH3 electrosynthesis usually exhibits a higher yield rate and efficiency compared with directly electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction because of a higher affinity for N2 of metallic lithium. However, it is challenging to achieve long-run preparation and industrial application due to poor stability and mass transfer efficiency. Recently, a platinum-gold alloy-catalyzed nitrogen electroreduction to ammonia coupling with hydrogen oxidation was reported by Chorkendorff and colleagues. Attributing to the use of flow electrolyzer and chain-ether-based electrolyte, the long-term electrosynthesis of 300 h was achieved.