Plasma‐Driven Ammonia Synthesis Over Ni‐Loaded Dendritic Mesoporous Silica With Tunable Metal Dispersion

ABSTRACT

Plasma‐assisted ammonia synthesis provides a low‐carbon alternative to the Haber–Bosch process, in which efficient nitrogen activation is essential to achieve high energy efficiency. Dendritic mesoporous silica (DMS), enables effective dispersion of Ni nanoparticles. Ni‐DMS catalysts with various Ni loadings were evaluated in a dielectric barrier discharge system to elucidate plasma–catalyst interactions. The three‐dimensional radial channels of DMS enhance adsorption and conversion of reactive nitrogen species while suppressing the decomposition of NH ₃ . The 1.5Ni‐DMS catalyst achieved an ammonia synthesis rate of 193 mol min ⁻¹ gcat ⁻¹ and an energy yield of 1.31 g‐NH ₃ kWh ⁻¹ . Strong metal–support interactions were identified the as key factors facilitating N ≡ N activation, thereby providing insights into the design of efficient plasma‐catalytic systems.