Operando isotope selective ammonia quantification in nitrogen reduction studies via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Rapid advances in electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis are impeded by laborious detection methods commonly used in the field and by constant risk of external contaminations, which generates misleading false positives. We developed a facile real-time GC-MS method for sensitive isotope NH3 quantification, requiring no external sample manipulations....

Overcoming Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia Detection Challenges: The Case for Leapfrogging to Gas Diffusion Electrode Platforms

The nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a promising pathway toward the decarbonization of ammonia (NH3) production. However, unless practical challenges related to the detection of NH3 are removed, confidence in published data and experimental throughput will remain low for experiments in aqueous electrolyte. In this perspective, we analyze...

In Situ Study of Hydrogen Permeable Electrodes for Electrolytic Ammonia Synthesis Using Near Ambient Pressure XPS

Hydrogen permeable electrodes can be utilized for electrolytic ammonia synthesis from dinitrogen, water, and renewable electricity under ambient conditions, providing a promising route toward sustainable ammonia. The understanding of the interactions of adsorbing N and permeating H at the catalytic interface is a critical step toward the...

Combinatorial Screening of Bimetallic Electrocatalysts for Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia Using a High-Throughput Gas Diffusion Electrode Cell Design

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a promising alternative to the current greenhouse gas emission intensive process to produce ammonia (NH₃) from nitrogen (N₂). However, finding an electrocatalyst that promotes NRR over the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has proven to be difficult. This...

Accelerating ¹H NMR Detection of Aqueous Ammonia

Direct electrolytic N2 reduction to ammonia (NH3) is a renewable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. The activity and selectivity of electrocatalysts are evaluated by measuring the amount of NH3 in the electrolyte. Quantitative 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) detection reduces the bench time to analyze samples of NH3 (present in the...