A technology that harnesses solar energy to produce high-efficiency ammonia (NH3) has been unveiled by a research team affiliated with UNIST.
Led by Professor Sung-Yeon Jang and Professor Ji-Wook Jang from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Thomas F. Jaramillo from Stanford University, the team has developed an eco-friendly perovskite-based photoelectrode system for NH3 production that has surpassed the commercialization standard of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by an impressive 1.7 times, setting a new world record in ammonia production efficiency.
The work is published in the journal Nature Catalysis.
The system operates on the principle of reducing nitrate (NO3-) in water to produce NH3 using solar energy. This method not only offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional Haber-Bosch process, which heavily relies on fossil fuels, but also opens up opportunities for the synthesis of high-value compounds used in various industries such as fertilizers, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Toyota has already developed the world's first ammonia engine ready for mass production. Ammonia is a fuel of the future.
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