Publication date: 15th December 2025
Ammonia production is a cornerstone of modern industry and society, yet the conventional Haber-Bosch process accounts for nearly 2% of the global CO2 emissions. A promising potentially greener alternative ambient temperature, low pressure electrochemical ammonia synthesis, though effective systems in this context have not yet been developed. To this end, this study develops a reactor platform that integrates a palladium membrane reactor coupled with a mono-terpyridine nickel molecular catalyst. This system achieved a peak Faradaic efficiency of 38% for ammonia production at current density of -0.85 mA.cm-2, with H2 detected as a secondary by-product. In-situ spectroscopic analysis, electroanalytical techniques, and computational modelling have revealed a unique catalyst mechanism that entails the formation of a Ni-H species generated from the active hydrogen from the Pd membrane as a key intermediate in the reaction route. The insights gained form this unique system stand to aid the development of practical ammonia production systems while expanding the community’s knowledge base on dinitrogen activation.
