ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Ammonia synthesis using lithium hydride-metal nitride composites: an in situ neutron powder diffraction study

Abstract: The development of more active catalysts for the production of ammonia will have a worldwide impact on the energy cost of producing fertiliser. Composites of lithium hydride and transitions metals/metal nitrides have recently been identified as highly active ammonia synthesis catalysts. Their activity has been explained by a nitrogen-shuttling mechanism between the metal/metal nitride and lithium hydride, resulting in the formation of lithium amide. We request four days on POLARIS to measure neutron powder diffraction data on these catalyst composites during the ammonia synthesis reaction. These data will provide insights into the active form of the catalysts and the nature of their remarkable catalytic effect on this critical industrial reaction.

Principal Investigator: Professor Bill David
Experimenter: Mr Jake Brittain
Experimenter: Miss Charlotte Kirk
Experimenter: Mr Jack Searle
Experimenter: Dr Tom Wood
Local Contact: Dr Ronald Smith
Experimenter: Dr Josh Makepeace

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1710496

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1710496

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Professor Bill David et al; (2018): Ammonia synthesis using lithium hydride-metal nitride composites: an in situ neutron powder diffraction study, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1710496

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.