Successful Synthesis of Ammonia Using Visible Light, Water, and Atmospheric Nitrogen
Research Press Release | April 14, 2016
Fig. 1 Layout of the NH3 synthesis device bearing the Nb-SrTiO3 photoelectrode loaded with Au-NPs and a Zr/ZrOx thin film
Fig. 2 The irradiation time-dependence of NH3 formation on the cathodic side of the chamber (blue diamond), O2 evolution on the anodic chamber (red square), and ratio of NH3 and O2 (green triangle), respectively.
Key Points |
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Background |
The research group of Professor Hiroaki Misawa and Assistant Professor Tomoya Oshikiri of the Research Institute for Electronic Science of Hokkaido University, by using a photoelectrode in which gold nanoparticles are loaded on an oxide semiconductor substrate, has worked to develop a method of artificial photosynthesis that has received attention as an ultimate light energy conversion system. At this time this research group has developed a co-catalyst that can convert dinitrogen into ammonia with good efficiency, and by supporting this co-catalyst on a photoelectrode in which gold nanoparticles are loaded, they have succeeded in using water, dinitrogen, and visible light to selectively synthesize ammonia, which has gained attention as a next-generation energy carrier. The research and development of artificial photosynthesis systems that convert solar energy into storable chemical energy have gained attention as a way to solve the global energy problem. Ammonia is expected to be one of the next-generation energy carriers of chemical energy because it has little danger of combustion or explosion and can be liquefied relatively easily. At the present time ammonia is commercially manufactured by the method called the Haber-Bosch process1, but this reaction requires a large amount of energy, and more than 1% of the world’s energy consumption goes into the Haber-Bosch process. Accordingly, in order to efficiently use ammonia as an energy carrier, the world awaits the development of a low-energy synthesis method that is fundamentally different from conventional synthesis methods. |
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Anticipated Outcomes |
By combining an optical antenna structure that can concentrate light into a nano-space, and a co-catalyst that selectively adsorbs nitrogen, we have succeeded in synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen and water by using visible light, which is found in abundance in solar energy. In the future, by improving the reaction efficiency and widening the response wavelength band, we will work towards the commercialization of this ultimate, clean “ammonia photosynthesis”, which can generate ammonia from the visible light in sunlight, the nitrogen in the air, and water. |
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Terms |
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Inquiries |
Professor Hiroaki MISAWA misawa[at]es.hokudai.ac.jp |
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Japanese Link |
可視光・水・空中窒素からのアンモニアの合成に成功 (03.02.2016) | |
Publications |
Selective Dinitrogen Conversion to Ammonia Using Water and Visible Light through Plasmon-induced Charge Separation, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (02.17.2015) |