In a breakthrough poised to reshape industrial chemistry, researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo, in collaboration with the National Institute for Materials Science and Tohoku University, have developed a novel catalyst, BaSiONH, for ammonia synthesis. Announced on February 17, 2025, this innovation promises to significantly reduce the environmental impact of ammonia production, a process vital for fertilizers and various industrial applications.
The conventional Haber-Bosch process, currently used for ammonia synthesis, demands high energy, extreme temperatures, and pressures, contributing substantially to carbon emissions. BaSiONH, however, operates at lower temperatures (400-700 °C), offering a more sustainable alternative. This transition metal-free catalyst leverages anion vacancies within its structure as active sites, enhancing catalytic activity while minimizing energy consumption.
Professor Masaaki Kitano's team initially identified tribarium silicate (BaSiO) as the foundation for this new catalyst. Published in Nature Chemistry, their research details how BaSiONH outperformed existing ruthenium-based catalysts, which are often costly and environmentally damaging. The new catalyst demonstrates superior ability to lower activation energy and increase ammonia synthesis efficiency.
Experiments under varying conditions confirmed BaSiONH's higher activity levels compared to conventional catalysts. Further enhancement was achieved by integrating ruthenium nanoparticles, though the team clarified that the primary active sites remained the anion vacancies within BaSiONH. This dual-phase system represents a significant step away from traditional catalysts.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. With global ammonia demand projected to rise, BaSiONH offers a sustainable production method, curbing harmful emissions and alleviating resource depletion. Its scalability and efficiency present a promising pathway to commercial viability, signaling a new era where sustainability and chemistry converge.