Spin-mediated promotion of Co catalysts for ammonia synthesis. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38513006/)

These scientists wanted to find a way to make a chemical reaction happen more easily. They were specifically looking at a reaction that turns nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonia. This reaction is really important for making fertilizers that help plants grow.

The scientists thought that by adding a special metal called cobalt along with another metal called lanthanum, they could make the reaction work better. They did some experiments using different forms of cobalt and found that when they added lanthanum to the mix, the reaction happened faster. They discovered that the best spot for the reaction to take place was on a specific part of the cobalt surface where lanthanum was attached.

Overall, they found that this combination of lanthanum and cobalt made the ammonia-making reaction happen more quickly and efficiently compared to other methods they tested. This could help make the process of making ammonia for fertilizers easier and more environmentally friendly.

Zhang K., Cao A., Wandall LH., Vernieres J., Kibsgaard J., Norskov JK., Chorkendorff I. Spin-mediated promotion of Co catalysts for ammonia synthesis. Science. 2024 Mar 22;383(6689):1357-1363. doi: 10.1126/science.adn0558. Epub 2024 Mar 21.