Artificial Photosynthesis for Ammonia: A Green Chemistry Breakthrough

Photocatalytic ammonia synthesis

In a milestone achievement for sustainable chemistry, researchers at the University of Tokyo have successfully demonstrated a process that uses only air, water, and sunlight to produce ammonia—one of the world’s most critical industrial chemicals. By mimicking natural photosynthesis with a dual-catalyst system, this innovation offers a radically greener alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, could pave the way for carbon-free fertilizer and fuel production and dramatically reduce the global carbon footprint of ammonia synthesis, which today accounts for roughly 2% of the world’s total energy use and CO₂ emissions.

The Ammonia Problem

Ammonia (NH₃) is vital for agriculture and industry. Around 200 million tons are produced globally each year, primarily as fertilizer. But the conventional manufacturing method—Haber-Bosch—requires high temperatures and pressures and consumes vast amounts of fossil fuels.

This environmental toll has driven scientists to seek more sustainable methods of producing ammonia under ambient conditions. And now, the team led by Professor Yoshiaki Nishibayashi has succeeded using a combination of visible light, water, and atmospheric nitrogen—no extreme heat, pressure, or hydrocarbons needed.

How It Works: Catalysts That Mimic Nature

The core of the system lies in two molecular catalysts designed to operate in tandem:

  • Molybdenum-based catalyst – activates dinitrogen (N₂) from air
  • Iridium photocatalyst – harnesses sunlight to oxidize tertiary phosphines and extract protons from water

When sunlight excites the iridium catalyst, it initiates the oxidation of phosphine molecules, which then react with water to release hydrogen ions (protons). These protons are subsequently captured by nitrogen atoms, forming ammonia via the molybdenum catalyst. The overall reaction mimics the biological nitrogen fixation process found in cyanobacteria and plant root nodules, but in a fully artificial and scalable format.

Ten Times the Yield of Previous Systems

According to the researchers, this is the first known method that uses only atmospheric nitrogen and water under sunlight to synthesize ammonia at meaningful scales. In fact, the output was 10 times higher than previous photocatalytic attempts, making it a strong candidate for further scale-up.

“Our study presents a functional example of artificial photosynthesis for ammonia,” said Prof. Nishibayashi. “It’s an exciting step toward truly sustainable chemistry.”

Environmental and Practical Impact

Although some components—like tertiary phosphines—may raise toxicity concerns, they can be manufactured sustainably and even recycled. Moreover, all key inputs—nitrogen, water, and light—are universally abundant, making this technique ideal for deployment in decentralized, off-grid, or developing regions with agricultural needs.

This innovation also holds promise beyond agriculture. Green ammonia is a candidate fuel for shipping, hydrogen storage, and clean energy applications, especially as global interest in ammonia-powered engines and turbines grows.

🔗 Original article citation: Phys.org – Ammonia made from air, water and sunlight: Catalysts mimic photosynthesis (May 22, 2025)

📘 Full journal publication: Nature Communications – DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59727-w

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