A new class of catalysts based on ternary ruthenium complex hydrides are developed for low-temperature ammonia synthesis. They support a non-dissociative reaction path for dinitrogen reduction, in which lithium or barium cations stabilize the NxHy intermediates and the electron- and H-rich [RuH6]4– anionic centres facilitate an energetically balanced multi-step reaction for ammonia synthesis.
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This is a summary of: Wang, Q. et al. Ternary ruthenium complex hydrides for ammonia synthesis via the associative mechanism. Nat. Catal. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-021-00698-8 (2021).
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Ammonia synthesis by ternary ruthenium complex hydrides. Nat Catal 4, 989–990 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-021-00695-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-021-00695-x