Proceedings of MATSUS23 & Sustainable Technology Forum València (STECH23) (MATSUS23)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsus.2023.215
Publication date: 22nd December 2022
A current chemistry challenge is the (photo)electrochemical production of ammonia (NH3) from atmospheric N2 without using H2 or emitting CO2, as an alternative to the current Haber-Bosch process which consumes 1% of the world energy and emits nearly 1.5% of the CO2. The nitrogen reduction reaction (N2 + 6H+ + 6e- -> 2NH3) implies a cascade of elementary steps that require a delicate balance of reactivity at the metal active site M (cleavage of the N-N triple bond without creating a too strong, poisoning M-N interaction; avoiding competitive reduction of protons to H2 …) [1,2]. To date, examples of molecular electrocatalysts including abundant metals remain scarce, although recent spectacular progress has been made, notably with Fe and Mo based catalysts [3,4]. In this presentation, we will present and discuss reactivity and mechanistic aspects of a Mn catalyst able to reduce dinitrogen to ammonia in homogeneous as well as in electrochemical conditions [5].