TY  - JOUR
A1  - Qin, Qing
A1  - Oschatz, Martin
T1  - Overcoming chemical inertness under ambient conditions
BT  - a critical view on recent developments in Ammonia synthesis via electrochemical N-2 reduction by asking five questions
JF  - ChemElectroChem
N2  - Ammonia (NH3) synthesis by the electrochemical N-2 reduction reaction (NRR) is increasingly studied and proposed as an alternative process to overcome the disadvantages of Haber-Bosch synthesis by a more energy-efficient, carbon-free, delocalized, and sustainable process. An ever-increasing number of scientists are working on the improvement of the faradaic efficiency (FE) and NH3 production rate by developing novel catalysts, electrolyte concepts, and/or by contributing theoretical studies. The present Minireview provides a critical view on the interplay of different crucial aspects in NRR from the electrolyte, over the mechanism of catalytic activation of N-2, to the full electrochemical cell. Five critical questions are asked, discussed, and answered, each coupled with a summary of recent developments in the respective field. This article is not supposed to be a complete summary of recent research about NRR but provides a rather critical personal view on the field. It is the major aim to give an overview over crucial influences on different length scales to shine light on the sweet spots into which room for revolutionary instead of incremental improvements may exist.
KW  - N-2 reduction
KW  - ammonia synthesis
KW  - catalysis
KW  - catalysts
KW  - electrolytes
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.201901970
SN  - 2196-0216
VL  - 7
IS  - 4
SP  - 878
EP  - 889
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  -