Reduction of N2 with H2 on palladium surfaces at low temperatures

Palladium is known to dissociate H-2 and not to adsorb N-2. We found N-2 is adsorbed on air-exposed Pd surfaces. The N-2 molecule is activated and reacts with H atoms resulting from H-2 at 100 degrees C. Resultant hydrogenated species (NH) is further reduced to NH3 that desorbs from palladium at the temperature. The processes make catalytic conversion of N-2 to NH3 with H-2 at low temperatures feasible. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.