Project title: Designing Cutting-Edge Electrocatalytic Systems for Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis
Position: PhD Candidate
Benefits:
100% tuition fee waiver
Funded by the Centre for Net-Zero Technology (CNZT)
RM2,850 monthly stipend (up to 42 months)
Supervisors: Dr. Lling-Lling Tan
Project Description:
Ammonia (NH3) is a crucial chemical for modern society, serving as a high-value product and a carbon-free, efficient energy carrier. However, the current industrial production of NH3 relies predominantly on the Haber-Bosch process, which is energy-intensive and a significant source of CO2 emissions. To address these challenges, electrocatalytic dinitrogen fixation through the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) in aqueous solution is emerging as a more sustainable alternative for NH3 synthesis. This electrochemical method, however, faces substantial obstacles due to inefficient NRR processes characterised by poor N2 adsorption, high activation energy barriers, and competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To overcome these issues, there is a critical need to develop active and durable electrocatalysts that can enhance the NRR while suppressing the HER. Transition metals, particularly molybdenum (Mo) and iron (Fe), have been identified as promising candidates due to their favourable positions on the volcano diagrams derived from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Therefore, this project aims to develop highly efficient Fe-based catalysts for NH3 electrosynthesis. Various enhancement strategies will be explored, including defect engineering and the development of bimetallic catalysts, such as Fe-Mo-based compounds. These approaches can potentially achieve high catalytic activity by creating synergistic effects between different metal centres. This innovative methodology will be complemented by comprehensive studies on reaction and process parameters, including electrolyte composition and operating temperature, to optimise the performance of the electrocatalysts. Additionally, theoretical computations will be employed to elucidate the structure-activity relationships of the developed electrocatalysts at the atomic level. The successful development of these Fe-based catalysts could pave the way for platinum-group-metal-free catalysts in future electrochemical NRR applications, thereby contributing to more sustainable and environmentally friendly NH3 production methods. This project represents a promising avenue for advancing the field of electrocatalytic N2 fixation and addressing the global demand for sustainable NH3 synthesis.
Requirements:
Full-time enrolment required
Open to Malaysians and International Students
Minimum academic qualification: First Class Honours (H1) or its equivalence (H1E) recognized by Monash University Malaysia
Must meet specific English language requirements
Independent, motivated and self-driven
Please contact via email (Dr. Lling-Lling Tan): tan.llinglling@monash.edu