With a high hydrogen content (17.6 wt.%), high energy density (4 kWh kg-1), facile storage and transportation, NH₃ has been regarded as a potential energy carrier. The key issue for NH₃ synthesis and decomposition is the development of non-noble metal based, highly active and stable catalysts that can be operated under mild condition. With the understanding of interactions of hydrides/imides of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AM for short) with 3d metals and their nitrides, the catalyst systems, i. e., AMNH-3d transition metals for NH₃ decomposition and AMH-3d transition metals for NH₃ synthesis, were developed. The unique chemistry among transition metals, alkali/alkaline earth, N and H creates an energy-favorable pathway allowing NH₃ synthesis/decomposition under mild conditions, i.e., detectable NH₃ formation rate was obtained at 150 °C over the Mn-, Fe- and Co-LiH composite catalysts, respectively.^1.2 The characterization of intermediate phases and surface clusters of catalysts provides interesting information that helps the elucidation of the step-wise reaction pathway and the interpretation of catalytic mechanism.

References

1. Guo JP, Wang PK, Wu GT, Wu A, Chen P. et al. Angew Chem 2015; 54: 2950-2954
2. Wang PK, Chang F, Gao WB, Guo JP and Chen P. et al. Nat Chem 2017; 9: 64-70