Manganese carbonate as an efficient electrocatalyst for the conversion of ammonia (NH4+/NH3) to dinitrogen

Energy generation from a sustainable renewable source is seen as an imperative tool to meet the energy demand of the present day. Moreover, obtaining clean energy fuel e.g., H-2 is the need of the hour and hence, oxidation of ammonia might be a solution to this milestone. Mn-2(CO3)(3) deposited electrochemically on the surface of a Pd electrode is a good electrocatalyst for the oxidation of ammonia (AOR) to dinitrogen. The AOR occurs in solutions containing Na2CO3 and NH4OH as electrolytes. The Mn-2(CO3)(3)/Pd electrode in 0.5 M NH4OH & 1.0 M Na2CO3 has a high electrocatalytic oxidation current density of 6.4 mA cm(-2) at anodic potential of 1.16 V vs. NHE. Chronoamperometric experiments, for the durability test, point out that Mn-2(CO3)(3) is stable for over 4 h towards the ammonia oxidation reaction. Also, on careful investigation of the products formed upon oxidation of ammonia, only nitrogen as a product was observed.

Automated summary

Energy generation from sustainable renewable sources is crucial, and the oxidation of ammonia using Mn-2(CO3)(3)/Pd electrode as an electrocatalyst could be a potential solution. The electrocatalyst exhibits a high oxidation current density at a specific anodic potential in solutions containing Na2CO3 and NH4OH. The durability test shows the stability of Mn-2(CO3)(3) for over 4 hours, and nitrogen is the only observed product of the ammonia oxidation reaction.