Interplay between Spectroscopic Measurement Techniques and Computational Chemistry for Catalytic Ammonia Combustion

Abstract

The future of a carbon-free (carbon neutral) society depends on balancing the intermittent production of renewable energy with the continuously growing but variable energy demand. Fuel NH₃ combustion is a renewable and carbon-free energy source. However, the utility of fuel NH₃ is limited by factors such as high ignition temperature and N₂O/NO_x generation. Novel catalytic combustion systems and high-performance catalysts have been developed to overcome these disadvantages. Single and binary Cu, Ag and Pt catalysts supported on Al₂O₃-based materials can be used for NH₃ combustion because of their high combustion activity, low N₂O/NO_x (high N₂) selectivity, and high thermal stability. Computational chemistry methods and spectroscopic measurement techniques have revealed the relationship between the physicochemical properties and activity/selectivity of these catalysts as well as the reaction mechanisms of catalytic NH₃ combustion over these catalysts. This review provides an overview of various studies on these catalysts, particularly investigating the decomposition profile of N₂O which is a greenhouse gas (GHG).