Researchers have developed a new catalyst that significantly enhances ammonia conversion.
Scanning electron micrograph of the catalyst, NiOOH-Ni, developed in this study. (Hanwen Liu, et al. Advanced Energy Materials. August 7, 2024)
A team of researchers from Hokkaido University and the University of Technology Sydney have developed a new catalyst that enhances ammonia conversion.
Ammonia, at high concentrations, can cause severe issues for both humans and wildlife. It can result in excessive algal growth in water, reducing oxygen, and harming aquatic life. Managing ammonia is imperative, but its corrosive nature makes it difficult to handle.
This is where catalysts are useful. Catalysts are substances that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. They are essential in a range of processes including industrial, environmental, and biochemical.
The catalyst, named NiOOH-Ni, has the potential to advance wastewater treatment, green nitrite and nitrate, as well as hydrogen production. For example, it can be used to clean wastewater by converting ammonia into less harmful substances, but it can also be used to produce hydrogen gas, a clean fuel. This makes NiOOH-Ni valuable for various applications.
NiOOH-Ni is impressively durable and stable, and it works well even after being used multiple times. This makes it a great alternative to traditional, more expensive catalysts like platinum, which aren’t as effective at converting ammonia.
Associate Professor Andrey Lyalin, Hokkaido University.
The catalyst’s long-term reliability makes it suitable for large-scale usage, with the potential to transform how industries handle wastewater and produce clean energy.