Ammonia electrosynthesis on single-atom catalysts: Mechanistic understanding and recent progress

Abstract

Ammonia has been regarded as an irreplaceable chemical for human life as its essential role in fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. At present, ammonia is industrially derived from fossil fuels with the well-known Haber–Bosch process, which is energy-consuming as well as environmentally unfriendly. The electrosynthesis approach is currently under intensive research as a future basis for producing ammonia from renewable sources. This review presents in-depth mechanistic studies and recent progress in single-atom electrocatalysts as an emerging platform for ammonia synthesis from the electroreduction of molecular dinitrogen and nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrate anion. In the conclusions and outlook, our discussion explores some key perspectives of future developments in the field. It is believed that ammonia electrosynthesis from a variety of nitrogen species via renewable electricity is of a great prospect to offer environmental, energy, and sustainability benefits.