CILCat · Nanocarbon-Ionic Liquid-Interfaces for Catalytic Activation of Nitrogen

Ammonia is one of the most important chemicals in the world. Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen (NRR) at ambient conditions is a sustainable alternative for its production to the established energy consuming Haber-Bosch process, relying on hydrogen from fossil sources. The triple bond in dinitrogen is one of the most stable covalent chemical bonds. Conversely, the dissociation of dinitrogen and its chemical conversion is highly demanding. NRR is a carbon-neutral and decentral process that can be carried out wherever renewable electricity, water, and air are available. However, current research on NRR and other electrocatalytic reactions has reached an impasse as improvements based on catalyst design are getting more and more incremental. At this tipping point, CILCat tackles a foreseeable stagnation by constituting a disruptive principle that holds holistic perspectives for the activation of small molecules. The novel concept will go beyond established principles of isolated catalytically active sites. By confining ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes into charged porous carbon materials, an interface will be created, that as a whole serves as catalytic surface. CILCat will contribute to a fundamental understanding of the physicochemical principles of sorption into ILs upon confinement in pores. Targeted catalyst development will follow and the possibility of using the principle for catalytic activation of nitrogen and other molecules will be explored. This innovative approach will then be combined with advanced electrode design. CILCat aims for more than a step towards a future carbon-free nitrogen economy. It is a pioneering attempt to heterogenize homogenous catalysts by rather converting the energy principles of small molecule activation than chemical structures from solution to surfaces. The methodology is transferable to other obstacles in the field of catalysis and the project will lead to a more objective general understanding of reactivity in confined spaces.