Optimal catalyst curves: Connecting density functional theory calculations with industrial reactor design and catalyst selection

For ammonia synthesis catalysts a volcano-type relationship has been found experimentally. We demonstrate that by combining density functional theory calculations with a microkinetic model the position of the maximum of the volcano curve is sensitive to the reaction conditions. The catalytic ammonia synthesis activity, to a first approximation, is a function only of the binding energy of nitrogen to the catalyst.

Therefore, it is possible to evaluate which nitrogen binding energy is optimal under given reaction conditions. This leads to the concept of optimal catalyst curves, which illustrate the nitrogen binding energies of the optimal catalysts at different temperatures, pressures, and synthesis gas compositions.

Using this concept together with the ability to prepare catalysts with desired binding energies it is possible to optimize the ammonia process. In this way a link between first-principle quantum mechanical calculations of gas-surface interactions, reactor design, and catalyst selection has been established for the first time.