# Engineering Plasma–Liquid Microdischarge Systems for Direct N2‑to-NH3 Conversion at Ambient Conditions

## TL;DR

Scientists developed a new device that can convert nitrogen and water into ammonia at room temperature without catalysts.

## Contribution

A hybrid electrochemical device with a micro-plasma cathode is engineered for efficient ammonia production under ambient conditions.

## Key findings

- Solvated electrons from plasma–liquid interactions enable ammonia synthesis without catalysts.
- Optimized system parameters achieve Faradaic efficiency exceeding 70%.
- The device outperforms previous plasma–liquid systems in ammonia yield.

## Abstract

Ammonia (NH3) can be synthesized directly
from N2 and H2O using plasma micro-discharges
formed at the water–electrode interface, offering a promising
alternative to both conventional electrocatalysis and nonthermal plasma
processes. However, discharge performance and stability are strongly
affected by device engineering. This study reports the development
and engineering of a hybrid electrochemical device that integrates
a micro-plasma cathode for sustainable NH3 production under ambient temperature and pressure. Solvated electrons
generated through plasma–liquid interactions, particularly
within interfacial aerosol microdroplets, act as highly reducing species,
eliminating the need for catalysts or external chemical reagents.
The effects of the plasma–liquid gap, gas feed flow rate, discharge
current, and cathode inner diameter on NH3 yield are systematically
investigated. Optimizing these factors enables Faradaic efficiency
exceeding 70% and significantly enhances the instantaneous N2-to-NH3 yield, outperforming previously reported plasma–liquid
systems. These findings highlight the importance of system engineering
optimization for advancing sustainable plasma-assisted nitrogen fixation
and for progressing toward industrial scale-up.