Characterisation and testing of novel electrodes and electrolytes for efficient N2 reduction

用于高效 N2 还原的新型电极和电解质的表征和测试

• 批准号: 2253916
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Imperial College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2253916
• 关键词: Characterisation; testing; novel; electrodes; electrolytes

The current method for ammonia production, the Haber-Bosch process, consumes >1% of fossil fuels and emits vast quantities of greenhouse gas. Electrochemical ammonia synthesis, powered by renewable energy, could provide a green solution. However, there exist many significant contamination sources, complicating quantitative proof of synthesis. Additionally, any catalyst active for nitrogen reduction will preferentially evolve hydrogen [1].This project will build on the recent first quantitative proof of ammonia synthesis using a lithium mediated route and an organic electrolyte [2]. The aim is to understand the role of the electrode and electrolyte using cutting-edge characterisation techniques translated from battery science. A magnetron sputter deposition chamber directly attached to a glove box will be used to grow highly reactive thin film electrodes. These can be quickly transferred to an electrochemical cell, minimising deleterious oxidisation. The glove box will contain a hypersensitive mass spectrometer to measure gas evolution in-situ, never used before for non-aqueous electrochemistry, and an infrared spectrometer to probe intermediates. These operando techniques will be complemented by various ex-situ characterisation methods, including secondary ion mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical atomic force microscopy. The emergent molecular-scale picture will elucidate pathways towards efficient electrochemical ammonia synthesis.[1] Nilsson, A. & Stephens, I. E. L. "Sustainable N2 reduction" in Research needs towards sustainable production of fuels and chemicals (eds J.K. Norskov, A. Latimer, & C. F. Dickens) 49 (Energy-X, Brussels, Belgium, 2019)[2] Andersen, S. Z., Colic, V., Yang, S., Schwalbe, J. A., Nielander, A. C., McEnaney, J. M., Enemark-Rasmussen, K., Baker, J. G., Singh, A. R., Rohr, B. A., Statt, M. J., Blair, S. J., Mezzavilla, S., Kibsgaard, J., Vesborg, P. C. K., Cargnello, M., Bent, S. F., Jaramillo, T. F., Stephens, I. E. L., Norskov, J. K. & Chorkendorff, I. Nature 570, 504, (2019)

当前的氨产生方法，即Haber-Bosch工艺，消耗了> 1％的化石燃料，并排放大量的温室气体。由可再生能源提供动力的电化学氨合成可以提供绿色溶液。但是，存在许多重要的污染源，使合成的定量证明变得复杂。另外，任何活跃的氮还原催化剂都将优先进化氢[1]。该项目将建立在最近使用锂介导的途径和有机电解质的氨合成的第一个定量证明基于氨合成的第一个定量证明[2]。目的是使用电池科学翻译的尖端特征技术来了解电极和电解质的作用。直接连接到杂物盒的磁控溅射腔室将用于生长高反应性薄膜电极。这些可以快速转移到电化学细胞中，从而最大程度地减少有害氧化。杂物盒将包含一个高度敏感的质谱仪，以测量原位气体进化，以前从未用于非水性电化学，以及用于探测中间体的红外光谱仪。这些操作技术将通过各种前原位表征方法进行补充，包括次级离子质谱法，核磁共振光谱，拉曼光谱和电化学原子力显微镜。新兴的分子尺度图将阐明通向有效的电化学氨合成的途径。[1]尼尔森（A. McEnaney，J。M.，Enemark-Rasmussen，K.，Baker，J.G.，Singh，A.R.，Rohr，B.A.，Statt，M.J.，S.J.，Mezzavilla，Mezzavilla，S. ＆Chorkendorff，I。Nature 570，504，（2019年）