Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation and Conversion

Rong ZHANG; Shaoce ZHANG; Ying GUO

doi:10.1002/9783527849291.ch12

Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation and Conversion

Rong ZHANG
, Shaoce ZHANG
, Ying GUO^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Interdisciplinary Studies

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference Proceedings › Book Chapter › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for all living organisms and plays a critical role in modern society. Electrochemical nitrogen (N₂) fixation and conversion, including nitrogen-to-ammonia (NRR) and nitrogen-to-nitrate (NOR) processes, offer sustainable alternatives to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch and Ostwald processes for ammonia and nitrate production, respectively, by utilizing N₂ and H₂O as feedstocks under ambient conditions. Despite significant recent research in electrochemical N₂ fixation, progress in this field has encountered substantial bottlenecks. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of both theoretical and experimental studies on NRR and NOR. It introduces the fundamental electrochemistry and reaction mechanisms involved. Additionally, it presents a thorough summary of recent advancements in nitrogen fixation and the development of related catalysts. Finally, the chapter discusses current challenges, potential opportunities, and highlights future research directions in this evolving field.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Electrochemical Energy Conversion Via Small Molecule Catalysis
Editors	Zhicheng ZHANG, Yuanmiao SUN
Publisher	John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Chapter	12
Pages	269-310
Number of pages	42
ISBN (Electronic)	9783527849291
ISBN (Print)	9783527354405, 9783527849277
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527849291.ch12
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH, Boschstraße 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany.

Funding

This work was supported by the start-up fund from Lingnan University.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Electrochemical nitrogen fixation
Energy efficiency
Fundamental electrochemistry
NH3 production HNO3 production
Nitrogen oxidation
Nitrogen reduction
Reaction mechanism
Reaction pathway
Reaction selectivity

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10.1002/9783527849291.ch12

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title = "Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation and Conversion",

abstract = "Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for all living organisms and plays a critical role in modern society. Electrochemical nitrogen (N2) fixation and conversion, including nitrogen-to-ammonia (NRR) and nitrogen-to-nitrate (NOR) processes, offer sustainable alternatives to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch and Ostwald processes for ammonia and nitrate production, respectively, by utilizing N2 and H2O as feedstocks under ambient conditions. Despite significant recent research in electrochemical N2 fixation, progress in this field has encountered substantial bottlenecks. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of both theoretical and experimental studies on NRR and NOR. It introduces the fundamental electrochemistry and reaction mechanisms involved. Additionally, it presents a thorough summary of recent advancements in nitrogen fixation and the development of related catalysts. Finally, the chapter discusses current challenges, potential opportunities, and highlights future research directions in this evolving field.",

keywords = "Electrochemical nitrogen fixation, Energy efficiency, Fundamental electrochemistry, NH3 production HNO3 production, Nitrogen oxidation, Nitrogen reduction, Reaction mechanism, Reaction pathway, Reaction selectivity",

author = "Rong ZHANG and Shaoce ZHANG and Ying GUO",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH, Boschstra{\ss}e 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany.",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1002/9783527849291.ch12",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783527354405",

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T1 - Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation and Conversion

AU - ZHANG, Rong

AU - ZHANG, Shaoce

AU - GUO, Ying

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for all living organisms and plays a critical role in modern society. Electrochemical nitrogen (N2) fixation and conversion, including nitrogen-to-ammonia (NRR) and nitrogen-to-nitrate (NOR) processes, offer sustainable alternatives to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch and Ostwald processes for ammonia and nitrate production, respectively, by utilizing N2 and H2O as feedstocks under ambient conditions. Despite significant recent research in electrochemical N2 fixation, progress in this field has encountered substantial bottlenecks. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of both theoretical and experimental studies on NRR and NOR. It introduces the fundamental electrochemistry and reaction mechanisms involved. Additionally, it presents a thorough summary of recent advancements in nitrogen fixation and the development of related catalysts. Finally, the chapter discusses current challenges, potential opportunities, and highlights future research directions in this evolving field.

AB - Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for all living organisms and plays a critical role in modern society. Electrochemical nitrogen (N2) fixation and conversion, including nitrogen-to-ammonia (NRR) and nitrogen-to-nitrate (NOR) processes, offer sustainable alternatives to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch and Ostwald processes for ammonia and nitrate production, respectively, by utilizing N2 and H2O as feedstocks under ambient conditions. Despite significant recent research in electrochemical N2 fixation, progress in this field has encountered substantial bottlenecks. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of both theoretical and experimental studies on NRR and NOR. It introduces the fundamental electrochemistry and reaction mechanisms involved. Additionally, it presents a thorough summary of recent advancements in nitrogen fixation and the development of related catalysts. Finally, the chapter discusses current challenges, potential opportunities, and highlights future research directions in this evolving field.

KW - Electrochemical nitrogen fixation

KW - Energy efficiency

KW - Fundamental electrochemistry

KW - NH3 production HNO3 production

KW - Nitrogen oxidation

KW - Nitrogen reduction

KW - Reaction mechanism

KW - Reaction pathway

KW - Reaction selectivity

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U2 - 10.1002/9783527849291.ch12

DO - 10.1002/9783527849291.ch12

M3 - Book Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:105021775094

SN - 9783527354405

SN - 9783527849277

SP - 269

EP - 310

BT - Electrochemical Energy Conversion Via Small Molecule Catalysis

A2 - ZHANG, Zhicheng

A2 - SUN, Yuanmiao

PB - John Wiley and Sons Inc.

ER -

Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation and Conversion

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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