Potassium Promoted Ferrocene/Graphene for Ammonia Synthesis

doi:10.1007/s40242-024-4019-3

Abstract

Abstract: Innovation of catalysts for mild condition ammonia synthesis promotes the carbon neutrality. Herein we report that ferrocene supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and promoted by alkali metal K is active catalyzing NH₃ synthesis from N₂/H₂ mixture. It exhibits a NH₃ formation rate of 0.1 μmol_NH₃·g_c^-1·h^-1 at 190 ℃ and increases by one order of magnitude to 2.1 μmol_NH₃·g_c^-1·h^-1 at 230 ℃ and under 0.1 MPa. By contrast, both rGO promoted by K and ferrocene supported on rGO without K promotion are almost inactive under the same conditions. Density functional theory calculations validate the essential role of K promoter for facilitating the adsorption of N₂ at the coordination unsaturated iron sites in the cyclopentadienylidene form. This finding could guide further development of metal complex catalysts for mild condition ammonia synthesis.

Key words: Ammonia synthesis, Metal complex, Ferrocene, Green synthesis

CHEN Ziquan, YE Yihan, PAN Xiulian, BAO Xinhe. Potassium Promoted Ferrocene/Graphene for Ammonia Synthesis[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2024, 40(6): 1004-1010.

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