Engineering Inverse CeO <i> <sub>x</sub> </i> /Cu Catalysts for High‐Yield Plasma Ammonia Synthesis

Plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis offers a low-carbon route compatible with intermittent renewable energy but remains limited by low yields and catalyst instability. Here, we design an inverse oxide-on-metal catalyst (CeO<sub>x</sub>/Cu), where CeO<sub>x</sub> nanoparticles are uniformly loaded on metallic Cu. The catalyst achieves an ammonia synthesis rate of 6772 μmol g<sub>cat</sub> <sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> at 30 W and exhibits excellent long-term stability. Mechanistic studies reveal that oxygen-vacancy-rich CeO<sub>x</sub> nanoparticles drive electron transfer toward interfacial Cu sites, constructing highly active Ce-O<sub>x</sub>-Cu inverse interfacial centers. This structure strengthens N<sub>2</sub> adsorption and activation, thereby markedly enhancing ammonia synthesis efficiency. This work proposes an oxide-metal interfacial regulation strategy, offering new insights for designing efficient and robust plasma catalysts for ammonia synthesis.

Publication Details

Journal
ChemSusChem
Published
2026-03-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202502471
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
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article

Engineering Inverse CeO x /Cu Catalysts for High‐Yield Plasma Ammonia Synthesis

ChemSusChem
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
article

Engineering Inverse CeO x /Cu Catalysts for High‐Yield Plasma Ammonia Synthesis

article en

Abstract

Plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis offers a low-carbon route compatible with intermittent renewable energy but remains limited by low yields and catalyst instability. Here, we design an inverse oxide-on-metal catalyst (CeO<sub>x</sub>/Cu), where CeO<sub>x</sub> nanoparticles are uniformly loaded on metallic Cu. The catalyst achieves an ammonia synthesis rate of 6772 μmol g<sub>cat</sub> <sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> at 30 W and exhibits excellent long-term stability. Mechanistic studies reveal that oxygen-vacancy-rich CeO<sub>x</sub> nanoparticles drive electron transfer toward interfacial Cu sites, constructing highly active Ce-O<sub>x</sub>-Cu inverse interfacial centers. This structure strengthens N<sub>2</sub> adsorption and activation, thereby markedly enhancing ammonia synthesis efficiency. This work proposes an oxide-metal interfacial regulation strategy, offering new insights for designing efficient and robust plasma catalysts for ammonia synthesis.

ChemSusChemVol. 19(6)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
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