Mechanochemistry makes ammonia under mild conditions

A mechanochemical process could drastically reduce the amount of energy required to produce ammonia, one of the world’s most important chemical feedstocks. The reaction makes ammonia at atmospheric pressure and 45°C – significantly lower than the high pressure and hundreds of degrees needed for the Haber–Bosch process.

Ammonia is a key ingredient in fertiliser. Its production by the century-old Haber–Bosch process is responsible for around 2% of the world’s energy use. The main reason for this is the extreme conditions required to drive the reaction, with temperatures close to 500°C and 200bar of pressure.