Synthesis of ammonia in high-frequency discharges. II. Synthesis of ammonia in a microwave discharge under various conditions

Abstract

The synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen-hydrogen plasma prepared using microwave discharge was studied by changing some experimental conditions, such as pressure (260–2600 Pa), power input (30–280 W), and nitrogen-hydrogen mixing ratio [H₂/(N₂+H₂)=0−1.0]. The ammonia yield increased with decreasing pressure and saturated at lower pressures. When the power input and the nitrogen-hydrogen mixing ratio were changed, the maximum yield of ammonia was obtained at the optimum experimental conditions (power input ≈150W; H₂/(N₂+H₂)≈0.75). Amounts of NH, H, and H₂ in the plasma also changed by changing the experimental conditions. From the changes in ammonia yield and amounts of NH, H, and H₂ by changing the experimental conditions, it is suggested that ammonia molecules are formed by the reaction of NH radicals not only with hydrogen atoms but also with hydrogen molecules. Otherwise, the formation and the decomposition of ammonia would occur simultaneously.