Prevailing surface reactions in the plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis with Ru/CeO2 and Ru/Ti-CeO2

Sustainable plasma-catalytic NH3 synthesis is receiving an increasing amount of interest as a greener alternative for the conventional Haber-Bosch (HB) process. However, best energy efficiency plasma reported so far still low compared to one HB. This research was conducted experimentally investigate process rate-limiting steps, which N2 bond breaking. study aimed at identifying enhancing-surface reactions well limiting surface such H-inhibition. Ru/CeO2 and Ru/Ti-CeO2 were tested in packed-bed DBD reactor influence TiO2 addition, possibly prevented H-inhibition, simultaneously enhanced different reactions. Variations feed gas ratios designed operation schemes studied elucidate effect catalyst composition. Results showed that outperformed terms consumption N2-rich atmosphere needed obtain minima 84.5 MJ mol−1 126.5 mol−1, respectively. The addition catalysts provided more sites H2 adsorb on, identified main reason improving synthesis. Three detailed reaction mechanisms proposed elaborate on behavior between Ru/Ti-CeO2.