Accelerated Discovery‐to‐Unveiling of High‐Performance and Affordable Ammonia Electrode Process by Human–Machine Collaboration Framework

ABSTRACT The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO 3 RR) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a key for producing fuels during interstellar travel and an alternative to Haber−Bosch process. However, the complicated multi‐electron/proton transfer electrode process of eNO 3 RR makes affordable electrocatalyst discovery and its mechanistic understanding challenging. Herein, we established a human–machine collaboration framework by employing dimensionally reduced reaction descriptors which enables an accelerated data‐driven discovery‐to‐unveiling of unconventional and high‐performance eNO 3 RR electrocatalysts with desirable element choice. Using the current density difference between nitrite (NO 2 − ) reduction and hydrogen evolution as a descriptor, the optimal FeCoNiCuGa electrocatalyst was identified in a drastically short timeframe. Even compared with Pt or Rh, the FeCoNiCuGa exhibits a higher NH 3 production rate of 9.8 mmol mg cat −1 at −0.3 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. Furthermore, together with a mechanistic study using rotating ring‐disk electrode combined with a new kinetic model, in situ infrared spectroscopy unveiled that the adsorbed NO 2 − (*NO 2 − ) plays a crucial role in the efficient electrode process: a moderate *NO 2 − binding accelerates NH 3 formation whereas a weak binding leads to unfavorable reactions. Our work demonstrates that a comprehensive human–machine collaboration approach enables an accelerated discovery‐to‐unveiling of promising electrode processes, providing a feasible way to promote game‐changing electrochemical technologies.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2026-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.2469199
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
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article

Accelerated Discovery‐to‐Unveiling of High‐Performance and Affordable Ammonia Electrode Process by Human–Machine Collaboration Framework

Ken Sakaushi, Abraham Castro García, Masaki Takeguchi, Yingying Cheng
Angewandte Chemie
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
article

Accelerated Discovery‐to‐Unveiling of High‐Performance and Affordable Ammonia Electrode Process by Human–Machine Collaboration Framework

Ken Sakaushi, Abraham Castro García, Masaki Takeguchi, Yingying Cheng
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO 3 RR) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a key for producing fuels during interstellar travel and an alternative to Haber−Bosch process. However, the complicated multi‐electron/proton transfer electrode process of eNO 3 RR makes affordable electrocatalyst discovery and its mechanistic understanding challenging. Herein, we established a human–machine collaboration framework by employing dimensionally reduced reaction descriptors which enables an accelerated data‐driven discovery‐to‐unveiling of unconventional and high‐performance eNO 3 RR electrocatalysts with desirable element choice. Using the current density difference between nitrite (NO 2 − ) reduction and hydrogen evolution as a descriptor, the optimal FeCoNiCuGa electrocatalyst was identified in a drastically short timeframe. Even compared with Pt or Rh, the FeCoNiCuGa exhibits a higher NH 3 production rate of 9.8 mmol mg cat −1 at −0.3 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. Furthermore, together with a mechanistic study using rotating ring‐disk electrode combined with a new kinetic model, in situ infrared spectroscopy unveiled that the adsorbed NO 2 − (*NO 2 − ) plays a crucial role in the efficient electrode process: a moderate *NO 2 − binding accelerates NH 3 formation whereas a weak binding leads to unfavorable reactions. Our work demonstrates that a comprehensive human–machine collaboration approach enables an accelerated discovery‐to‐unveiling of promising electrode processes, providing a feasible way to promote game‐changing electrochemical technologies.

Angewandte Chemie
National Institute for Materials Science (JP)
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
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