Ammonia is an attractive means of hydrogen storage, and the development of ammonia production methods that are compatible with renewable energy sources is an important goal. Plasma-enhanced catalytic production of ammonia has attractive features, including the ability to operate at relatively small scales and to be quickly turned on and off as required. Nevertheless, despite a significant effort in recent years, plasma-enhanced catalytic production of ammonia is still far from meeting the requirements for a commercially viable process. While the best ammonia yields that have been achieved are approaching those required, energy efficiencies are still well over an order of magnitude too low. This presentation will offer suggestions for potentially advantageous directions for improvement.<br/> <br/>Most experimental studies have used a conventional coaxial dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) reactor combined with various metal catalysts on oxide supports, and have often adopted a trial-and-error approach. The large number of factors that influence both the plasma and the catalyst means that trends in results can vary between similar systems.  In-situ monitoring is, therefore, a valuable tool for enabling a greater understanding of the reactions and species that exist as a function of time. The use of modelling can further enhance our understanding, for example, by providing insights into the rate-limiting steps and by elucidating differences between thermal and plasma-enhanced catalysis processes.<br/> <br/>Notwithstanding the potential benefits of in-situ monitoring and modelling, it is unlikely that the limitations of conventional DBD reactors can be overcome. Rethinking reactor design will, therefore, be essential in creating a viable process. Many factors have to be considered. For example, dissociation of nitrogen molecules requires significant energy and should be avoided. Further, kinetic modelling has suggested that hydrogen adsorption inhibits ammonia production in low-temperature atmospheric-pressure discharges. Approaches that can prevent these problems, and how they might be implemented and tested in novel reactor systems, will be considered.

Improving plasma-enhanced catalytic ammonia production

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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