Microfluidics for electrochemical energy conversion and storage : prospects toward sustainable ammonia production

Rems, Ervin (author), Herceg, Ana (author), Apostolova, Desislava (author), Dominko, Robert (author), Jovanovič, Primož (author), Genorio, Boštjan (author)

Ammonia is a key chemical in the production of fertilizers, refrigeration and an emerging hydrogen-carrying fuel. However, the Haber-Bosch process, the industrial standard for centralized ammonia production, is energy-intensive and indirectly generates significant carbon dioxide emissions. Electrochemical nitrogen reduction offers a promising alternative for green ammonia production. Yet, current reaction rates remain well below economically feasible targets. This work examines the application of electrochemical microfluidics for the enhancement of the rates of electrochemical ammonia synthesis. The review is built on the introduction to electrochemical microfluidics, corresponding cell designs, and the main applications of microfluidics in electrochemical energy conversion/storage. Based on recent advances in electrochemical ammonia synthesis, with an emphasis on the critical role of robust experimental controls, electrochemical microfluidics represents a promising route to environmentally friendly, on-site and on-demand ammonia production. This review aims to bridge the knowledge gap between the disciplines of electrochemistry and microfluidics and promote interdisciplinary understanding and innovation in this transformative field.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ammonia, electrochemistry, energy conversion, microreactors, nitrogen reduction reaction
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 25, iss. 4, art. e202400234
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-168458
• UDC: 661.53:544.653.3
• ISSN on article: 1527-8999
• DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202400234
• COBISS.SI-ID: 225893123
• Publication date in RUL: 14.04.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: The chemical record
• Shortened title: Chem. rec.
• Publisher: Wiley, The Chemical Society of Japan
• ISSN: 1527-8999
• COBISS.SI-ID: 37800963

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: amoniak, elektrokemija, pretvorba energije, mikroreaktorji, reakcija redukcije dušika