Wind to Ammonia: Electrochemical Processes in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

Abstract
In this project, an alternative approach to synthesize ammonia electrochemically from wind energy, nitrogen gas, and ethanol is reported. Initial electrolyses have been attempted using room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as the electrolyte solvent in the presence of lithium ions. Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salts of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidizolium (EMI-TFSI) and 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium (PYR14-TFSI) were tested in this investigation. These results are compared to the use of tetrahydrofuran as the solvent. The data suggests EMI-TFSI is not an appropriate ionic liquid for the lithium mediated reduction of N2, whereas the increased electrochemical stability of PYR14-TFSI offers greater promise. Current efficiencies (3.8%) for NH3 formation in THF are consistently higher than PYR14-TFSI at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. The amount of ammonia synthesized was quantified by performing the Berthelot reaction.