What is the global impact of synthetic ammonia catalysts?

Ammonia synthesis catalysts is considered to be the most important technological invention of the 20th century.At present, more than 60% of human life in the world is nourished by ammonia in synthetic ammonia.With the population growth, it is predicted that the amount of ammonia fertilizer will increase to 2~3 times in the second half of the 21st century.The use of ammonia fertilizers has serious consequences on the environment.The main goal of future reforms must be the sustainability of the global environment. The main countermeasures are to increase the yield of arable land per hectare and the efficiency of chemical fertilizer use to 50%, and to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy resources to produce hydrogen.

After more than a hundred years of research results show that Ru, Os, Fe are the best ammonia synthesis catalysts.The great significance of synthetic ammonia forces people to look for new technological breakthroughs.The discovery of Fe1-xO-based catalysts and ruthenium-based catalysts is the embodiment of this idea.The industrial application of Ru catalysts is limited, and Fe1-xO-based catalysts are currently the most active and advanced iron catalysts in the world. New catalysts and new methods of ammonia production are being extensively explored.