FeAmo: A New Paradigm for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis with Iron Catalysts and Anhydrous Electrolytes at Intermediate Temperatures

Objective

Ammonia (NH3) is indispensable for food production and is emerging as a carbon-free energy carrier. Yet, its synthesis still relies on the century-old Haber–Bosch (HB) process, which consumes 1–2% of global energy and emits >1% of CO2. Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) powered by renewable electricity offers a sustainable, decentralized alternative, but current approaches face critical bottlenecks. Li-mediated eNRR achieves selectivity against the competing hydrogen evolution (HER) but depends on an unstable solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI), operates at extreme potentials, lacks scalability, and has a low theoretical energy efficiency (28%). Fe-based catalysts are a promising alternative, but early proof-of-concept studies were constrained by unsuitable proton sources, rapid deactivation, ultralow current densities, and missing isotope validation. The FeAmo (Iron-based Electrochemical Ammonia) project will pioneer a new strategy for selective, scalable Fe-catalyzed eNRR using anhydrous electrolytes at intermediate temperatures (100–200 °C) and low pressures (1–10 bar). By eliminating the SEI and enabling controlled proton flux, FeAmo targets sustained NH3 synthesis at practical current densities. The project will: (i) design stable anhydrous electrolytes with tunable proton delivery, (ii) synthesize and characterize promoter-stabilized Fe catalysts, (iii) verify NH3 production using isotope labeling and contamination controls, (iv) employ operando spectroscopy to unravel mechanisms, and (v) integrate these advances into a continuous-flow reactor for validation under scalable conditions. If successful, FeAmo will establish a new paradigm for green ammonia synthesis: a platform uniting molecular-level understanding with reactor-level engineering. This foundation will guide the development of decentralized fertilizer production, strengthen ammonia’s role as a renewable energy carrier, and accelerate progress toward carbon-free chemical production.