(Press-News.org) Researchers at Stockholm University have for the first time been able to study the surface of iron and ruthenium catalysts when ammonia is formed from nitrogen and hydrogen; the results are published in the scientific journal Nature. A better knowledge of the catalytic process and the possibility of finding even more efficient materials opens the door for a green transition in the currently very CO2-intensive chemical industry.
Ammonia, produced in the Haber-Bosch process, is currently one of the most essential base chemicals for the world to produce fertilizers, with an annual production of 110 million tones. The journal Nature proposed in 2001 that the Haber-Bosch process was the most critical scientific invention for humankind during the 20th century, since it has saved around 4 billion people’s lives by preventing mass starvation. An estimation of the nitrogen content in our bodies’ DNA and proteins shows that half of the atoms can be derived from Haber-Bosch.
“In spite of 3 Nobel Prizes (1918, 1931, and 2007) for the Haber-Bosch process, it has not been possible to experimentally investigate the catalyst surface with surface-sensitive methods under real ammonia production conditions; experimental techniques with surface sensitivity at high enough pressures and temperatures had not been achievable. Consequently, different hypotheses about the state of the iron catalyst as being metallic or in a nitride, as well as the nature of the intermediate species of importance to the reaction mechanism, could not be unambiguously verified”, says Anders Nilsson, professor of Chemical Physics at Stockholm University.
“What enabled this study is that we have built a photoelectron spectroscopy instrument in Stockholm that allows studies of catalyst surfaces under high pressures. Thereby, we have been able to observe what happens when the reaction occurs directly”, says David Degerman, Postdoc in Chemical Physics at Stockholm University. “We have opened a new door into understanding ammonia production catalysis with our new instrument where we now can detect reaction intermediates and provide evidence for the reaction mechanism.”
“To have our Stockholm instrument at one of the brightest x-ray sources in the world at PETRA III in Hamburg has been crucial to conduct the study”, says Patrick Lömker, Researcher at Stockholm University. “We can now imagine the future with even brighter sources when the machine upgrades to PETRA IV”.
“We now have the tools to conduct research leading to new catalyst materials for ammonia production that can be used better to fit together with electrolysis-produced hydrogen for the green transition of the chemical industry”, says Anders Nilsson.
“It is inspiring to conduct research on a topic that is so linked to a scientific success story that has helped humanity tremendously. I am eager to continue research to find new catalysts that can lessen our dependence on fossil sources. The chemical industry alone accounts for 8% of the world-wide CO2 emissions”, says Bernadette Davies, PhD student in Materials Chemistry at Stockholm University.
“The long-term prospect of carrying out ammonia production through an electrocatalytic alternative that is directly driven by solar, or wind electricity is most appealing, and now we have tools to scientifically assist in this development”, says Sergey Koroidov, Researcher at Stockholm University.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg and the Montan University in Austria. The study included former employees at the University, Chris Goodwin, Peter Amann, Mikhail Shiplin, Jette Mathiesen and Gabriel Rodrigez.
More information
The article “Operando Probing of the Surface Chemistry During the Haber-Bosch Process” by Chris Goodwin et al is published in the scientific journal Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06844-5
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06844-5
Contact
Anders Nilsson, professor at the Department of Physics, Stockholm University
Tel: +46-73 9946230
E-mail: andersn@fysik.su.se
END
The reaction mechanism for catalytic ammonia production experimentally determined
2024-01-10
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Ancient DNA reveals reason for high multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s rates in Europe
2024-01-10
Researchers have created the world’s largest ancient human gene bank by analysing the bones and teeth of almost 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago.
By sequencing ancient human DNA and comparing it to modern-day samples, the international team of experts mapped the historical spread of genes – and diseases – over time as populations migrated.
The ‘astounding’ results have been revealed in four trailblazing research papers published today (10 January 2024) in the same issue of Nature and provide new ...
Noninvasive test for embryo quality could streamline fertility treatment
2024-01-10
In-vitro-fertilization (IVF), a fertility treatment that involves fertilizing eggs in the laboratory and later implanting them in the uterus, has been a source of hope for many people struggling to conceive. However, the multi-step process is complex, and the overall live birth rate after IVF treatment is only 20-40% in females younger than 40 in the United States. One of the reasons for this low success rate is that it’s very difficult for doctors to determine which lab-grown embryos are most likely to result in a successful pregnancy, so many people seeking IVF must go through multiple rounds of treatment.
Now, scientists at University of California San Diego School of ...
Metal-free graphene quantum dots show promise for highly efficient tumor therapy
2024-01-10
A research group led by Prof. WANG Hui from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has introduced a metal-free nanozyme based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for highly efficient tumor chemodynamic therapy (CDT).
The study was published in Matter.
GQDs represent a promising and cost-effective means of addressing the toxicity concerns associated with metal-based nanozymes in tumor CDT. However, the limited catalytic activity of GQDs has posed significant challenges for their clinical application, particularly under challenging catalytic conditions.
"The obtained GQDs, which are made from red blood cell membranes, ...
Scientists name the commonest tropical tree species for the first time
2024-01-10
UCL Press Release + table
Under embargo until Wednesday 10 January 2024, 16:00 UK time / 11:00 US Eastern time
A major international collaboration of 356 scientists led by UCL researchers has found almost identical patterns of tree diversity across the world’s tropical forests.
The study of over one million trees across 1,568 locations, published in Nature, found that just 2.2% of tree species make up 50% of the total number of trees in tropical forests across Africa, the Amazon, and Southeast Asia. Each continent consists of the same proportion of a few common species and many rare species.
While ...
Global prevalence of adolescent use of nonprescription weight-loss products
2024-01-10
About The Study: This meta-analysis that included 90 studies with 604,000 participants found that use of weight-loss products occurs at high levels in adolescents, especially girls. These findings suggest that, given the ineffectiveness of these products for weight loss coupled with their harmful long-term health consequences, interventions are required to reduce use of weight-loss products in this group.
Authors: Natasha Yvonne Hall, Pharm.B., M.H.E., of Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, is the corresponding author.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For ...
Early prediction of autistic spectrum disorder using developmental surveillance data
2024-01-10
About The Study: In this study of nearly 1.2 million children, prediction models achieved high performance in predicting the likelihood of autistic spectrum disorder, using information from routine developmental assessments. This tool may be seamlessly integrated in the clinical workflow to improve early identification of children who may benefit from timely interventions.
Authors: Guy Amit, Ph.D., of the KI Research Institute in Kfar Malal, Israel, is the corresponding author.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51052)
Editor’s ...
Epic of a molecular ion: With eyes of electrons
2024-01-10
Ions are everywhere, from our daily surroundings to the cosmic expanse. As common table salt (NaCl) dissolves into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions in water, it imparts a salty taste. Once absorbed by the body, these ions regulate nerve impulses and muscle movements. In the sun, plasma—a gathering of ions in the gaseous state—undergoes nuclear fusion reactions, transmitting light and energy to Earth. One of the most noteworthy usage ions in everyday life is found in lithium-ion batteries, ...
Scientists find “key” to potential breast cancer prevention, treatment
2024-01-10
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Every time a cancer cell divides, it sustains damage to its own DNA molecules. Researchers, including Gaorav Gupta, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the UNC School of Medicine, have long wondered how cancers are able to evade detection by the body’s own defenses, despite the immune system being on constant watch for cells displaying DNA damage.
New findings by Gupta’s lab, which were published in Nature, shows how the cGAS-STING pathway – a pathway inside cells essential for activating the inflammatory immune response – is unleashed to prevent cancer formation by detecting DNA damage within ...
Almost 1:10 adolescents non-prescription weight loss products globally
2024-01-10
One in ten adolescents globally have used ineffective and potentially harmful non prescribed weight loss products in their lifetime, with 2% using them in the previous week.
A review, of over 90 studies of 600,000+ participants, headed by Ms Natasha Hall fro0m Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that adolescent use of non prescription weight loss products is 5.5% overall, 2% in the past week; 4.4% in the past month, 6.2% in the past year and 8.9% in their lifetime.
The authors caution against the long term consequences of these ineffective treatments. END ...
How ‘pioneers’ blaze the one trail that determines cell fate
2024-01-10
One of the important breakthroughs that made it possible to program or reprogram cell fate more efficiently and with higher fidelity in a dish was discovering how to make use of a small set of molecular cowboys called pioneer transcription factors (TFs).
Every cell in our bodies has more than 200 transcription factors expressed inside, riding along the DNA helix instructing specific genes to activate and deactivate. During the early stages of fetal development, a small subset of “pioneer” TFs act inside ...