Nitrogen Fixation Beyond Ammonia

Nitrogen activation - the breaking of the N2 triple bond, is a cornerstone of modern society given the key role nitrogen plays in the global food chain through fertilizer (and its myriad uses in other chemical processes). The most widely used method for nitrogen activation in industry is the Haber-Bosch process, with this process accounting for roughly 1.4% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions globally. Significant research effort is being undertaken to make the Haber-Bosch process more sustainable but the need for more decentralised production has been highlighted by recent global events and their knock-on effects on availability and cost of ammonia. The Haber-Bosch process relies on vast quantities of scale to become economically feasible therefore other routes should be investigated which can operate at smaller scales.
Therefore, the overall aim of this project is to produce an economically viable methodology for nitrogen activation with a lesser environmental impact than the current Haber-Bosch methodology and which can operate successfully on smaller scales than the current paradigm.