2026-03-10 中国科学院（CAS）
＜関連情報＞
- https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research-news/202603/t20260310_1152346.shtml
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2451929425004759?via%3Dihub
常温における金属Li/Ru界面におけるアンモニア合成 Ammonia synthesis at metallic Li/Ru interfaces under ambient conditions
Ying Hou, Wei Hu, Yunchuan Tu, Hao Lei, Wei Wei, Hao Li, Huicong Xia, Guang Yang, Yunlong Zhang, Baimao Zhang, Lei Hua, Haiyang Li, Yi Cui, Liang Yu, Dehui Deng
Chem Available online: 10 February 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102884
Graphical abstract
Highlights
- Thermocatalytic conversion of N2 and H2 to NH3 under ambient conditions is achieved
- Metallic Li/Ru interfaces as highly active sites enable the thermocatalytic process
- Li-Ru synergy facilitates both N2 dissociation and hydrogenation to NH3
- Realized in a Li battery with superior ammonia productivity of 2.43 mmolNH3 gRu−1 h−1
The bigger picture
Ammonia (NH3) synthesis from nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2) is regarded as one of the most significant chemical reactions in human history, since it is the foundation for the production of agricultural fertilizers and essential industrial chemicals. Currently, industrial NH3 synthesis mainly employs the Haber-Bosch process, which converts N2 and H2 to NH3 under high temperatures (350°C–500°C) and high pressures (10–30 MPa), and therefore is highly energy intensive with substantial carbon emissions. Great efforts have been devoted to the development of catalysts for NH3 synthesis under mild conditions toward a sustainable future, which remains a high challenge due to the extreme chemical inertness of the N2 molecule. In this work, an effective catalyst is developed for NH3 synthesis under ambient conditions. It consists of metallic lithium (Li) and ruthenium (Ru) as key components, forming highly active Li/Ru interfaces as catalytic sites, which enable efficient thermocatalytic conversion of N2 and H2 to NH3 at room temperature and ambient pressure. The Li/Ru interface presents a synergetic effect, which promotes both N2 activation and hydrogenation steps, which is critical for the production of NH3 under ambient conditions. This thermocatalytic process is implemented in a reversible Li battery system, in which Li/Ru interfaces can be in situ generated at the cathode during battery discharge, thereby enabling ambient-condition conversion of N2 and H2 to NH3, delivering a high NH3 productivity of 2.43 mmolNH3 gRu−1 h−1 with an excellent cycling stability of more than 400 h. This work provides a new route for establishing an energy-efficient distributed production pattern of NH3.
