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Catalytic Performance of Doped Ni2P Surfaces for Ammonia Synthesis
1  King Faisal University
Academic Editor: Manoj Gupta

Abstract:

Ammonia plays a crucial role in upholding the global food supply chain because it is a key ingredient in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizers. NH3 is produced industrially from N2 and H2 using the Haber-Bosch process. This process is energy-intensive and requires the consumption of natural gas and coal to produce hydrogen, which leads to the generation of various greenhouse gases. The conventional transition metal catalysts used in this process, such as Fe and Ru, operate at elevated temperatures and pressure to cleave the strong N≡N bond in N2, which is the rate limiting step, followed by sequential hydrogenation of N atoms on the catalytic surface to produce NH3. Previous studies have indicated that reducing the activation barrier of N2 on metal catalysts can lead to stronger binding of atomic N on the surface, ultimately inhibiting N2 activation sites. Recently, metal phosphide catalysts have gained attention for their unique activity, selectivity, and resistance to deactivation in various catalytic reactions. In this study, we investigate the catalytic performance of Ni2P catalyst doped with different transition metals (e.g., Ru and Fe) for ammonia synthesis using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We also explore H-assisted N–N activation pathways involving diazene (NH–NH) and hydrazine (NH2–NH2) to weaken the N–N bond prior to activation.

Keywords: Ammonia; Metals; Phosphides; Catalysts; DFT

 
 
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