Innovative alkaline earth systems for the activation and functionalization of dinitrogen and other challenging substrates

Objetivo

Catalysis is a powerful tool to address profound challenges in Europe’s energy transition. However, many current catalytic systems face important limitations in relation to activity, selectivity, or cost efficiency. Particularly, the production of ammonia relies upon the century-old energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, which is estimated that consumes up to 3% of the global energy produced every year. This EU-funded AE-FUN project will develop innovative systems based on earth-abundant, readily available alkaline earth metals for the challenging conversion of dinitrogen into ammonia and other nitrogen-containing valuable chemicals. This will be achieved by harnessing the unexplored modes of cooperativity between transition metals and low-valent alkaline earth elements. We envision that unusual participation of d the orbitals from the Ae element and the redox activity of transition metals will give place to unseen synergies that will facilitate the activation of highly challenging substrates (N2, CO2, CO, H2) and their functionalization.