The existence of many people is likely owed to the Haber-Bosch process, an industrial chemical reaction in which hydrogen and nitrogen are combined to produce ammonia. Ammonia serves as the key component in synthetic fertilizers, which have supported much of the world’s food supply and fueled the population explosion of the past century.
However, concerns have been raised about its sustainability, as the process consumes about 2% of the world’s total energy supply, with hydrogen primarily derived from fossil fuels. The environmental impact of this energy-intensive method has sparked fears about its long-term effects on future generations.
Inspired by natural processes, such as those occurring in lightning, a reactor has been developed by a team led by the University at Buffalo. Ammonia is produced in this reactor using nitrogen from the air and water, without creating a carbon footprint.
The plasma-electrochemical reactor, detailed in a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, has been shown to sustain ammonia production at a rate of approximately 1 gram per day for over 1,000 hours at room temperature. Production occurs directly from air, marking a major step toward green ammonia synthesis at a rate and stability that could compete with industrial methods.
The modernization of ammonia production is emphasized by Chris Li, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences. Li highlights that the Haber-Bosch process, unchanged for over a century, relies on high-temperature, high-pressure techniques, generating a significant carbon footprint. In contrast, this new process requires only air and water and can operate using renewable electricity. This breakthrough represents a sustainable alternative to traditional methods of ammonia synthesis.

The reactor was developed by Li (from left) and study first author Xiaoli Ge, a postdoctoral researcher in Li's lab. Photo: Douglas Levere/University at Buffalo
Nature’s Nitrogen Cycle Mimicked for Sustainable Ammonia Production
The natural process of nitrogen fixation, which provides fertilizer to plants, has been replicated using innovative technology. In nature, the electrical energy from lightning breaks nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere into nitrogen oxide species. These species, upon mixing with rainwater, are converted into ammonia by soil bacteria, supplying essential nutrients to plants.
In a reactor designed by a team led by the University at Buffalo (UB), the role of lightning has been replaced by plasma, and the function of bacteria has been substituted by a copper-palladium catalyst.
Humidified air is converted into nitrogen oxide fragments by the plasma reactor. These fragments are then processed in an electrochemical reactor, where the copper-palladium catalyst facilitates their conversion into ammonia. This process was described by Dr. Chris Li, who highlighted the critical role of the catalyst in adsorbing and stabilizing the nitrogen dioxide intermediates created during the plasma stage.
The identification of reaction paths was achieved through the use of a graph theory algorithm, which mapped out the conversion process of nitrogen oxide compounds into ammonia. A bottleneck compound was identified, and the reactor was optimized to stabilize this intermediate, enabling efficient conversion of all intermediates into ammonia.
Scaling up this innovation is currently underway, with efforts focused on commercialization. A patent application for the reactor and its methods has been filed by UB’s Technology Transfer Office.
Unlike the Haber-Bosch process, which requires large-scale, centralized facilities, this system is adaptable to smaller-scale operations. Dr. Li envisioned the reactors being deployed in medium-sized shipping containers equipped with solar panels. This configuration would allow ammonia to be produced on demand, even in underdeveloped regions lacking access to traditional ammonia production methods.
The potential of this system to provide localized and sustainable ammonia production presents a significant step forward, addressing challenges faced by developing countries while reducing reliance on energy-intensive, centralized processes.
Source : Tom Dinki
News Content Manager
Physical sciences, economic development
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