A Conceptual Approach for the Design of New Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis: A Metal—Support Interactions Review

Abstract

The growing interest in green ammonia production has spurred the development of new catalysts with the potential to carry out the Haber–Bosch process under mild pressure and temperature conditions. While there is a wide experimental background on new catalysts involving transition metals, supports and additives, the fundamentals behind ammonia synthesis performance on these catalysts remained partially unsolved. Here, we review the most important works developed to date and analyze the traditional catalysts for ammonia synthesis, as well as the influence of the electron transfer properties of the so-called 3rd-generation catalysts. Finally, the importance of metal–support interactions is highlighted as an effective pathway for the design of new materials with potential to carry out ammonia synthesis at low temperatures and pressures.