Symposium on “Green Energy”

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction for the synthesis of ammonia: A pathway to a green future

Owing to the rapid depletion of non-renewable energy sources, worldwide research is inclined towards developing alternative approaches with a long-term vision of a sustainable society. In this advent, green ammonia plays a dominating role towards a safe, reliable and green future. However, an electrochemical approach to these areas calls for efficient catalyst development. Due to their unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties, several electrocatalysts have emerged as some of the most promising candidates for heterogeneous electrocatalysis such as nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR). We have extensively worked on different avenues for nanomaterial development and rendered their advantages towards the electrocatalytic processes both from structural and mechanistic points of view. We have emphasized different defect and interface engineering strategies for nanomaterials and the influence of these strategies on intrinsic material performance, such as electronic properties and adsorption energetics. We have not only featured the opportunities of a versatile class of materials as efficient electrocatalysts for NRR but also explored the role of electrolyte and counter-electrode material for efficient ammonia synthesis by considering theoretical calculations, surface characterization, and electrochemical tests.