Are Nano Catalysts Revolutionizing Ammonia Synthesis with Enhanced Performance?

The key differences between nano catalysts and traditional ammonia synthesis catalysts lie in their structure and performance.

1. Structure:

Nano Catalysts: Nano particles exhibit a unique spherical or quasi-spherical shape with a distinct atomic arrangement on their surfaces. The presence of crystal defects such as twin boundaries, dislocations, and stacking faults sets them apart from the layered structure of the bulk phase.

Traditional Catalysts: Traditional catalysts typically have a different, often layered, structure that lacks the distinctive crystal defects found in nano catalysts.

2. Surface Properties:

Nano Catalysts: Nano catalysts possess a significant increase in surface area and active surface sites due to the abundance of dangling and unsaturated bonds. This enhances adsorption and catalytic performance.

Traditional Catalysts: The surface area and active sites of traditional catalysts are comparatively lower, affecting their adsorption and catalytic capabilities.

3. Performance:

Nano Catalysts: FeO, FeO, CuO, NiO, and MoO nano catalysts have been synthesized, showcasing an average selectivity improvement of 5 to 10 times and an activity increase ranging from 2 to 7 times compared to traditional catalysts.

Traditional Catalysts: While effective, traditional catalysts exhibit lower average selectivity and activity when compared to their nano counterparts.

In summary, nano catalysts present a paradigm shift in the field of ammonia synthesis due to their unique structure, enhanced surface properties, and superior performance metrics when compared to traditional catalysts.