Reduction of N2 with H2 on palladium surfaces at low temperatures

Abstract Palladium is known to dissociate H 2 and not to adsorb N 2 . We found N 2 is adsorbed on air-exposed Pd surfaces. The N 2 molecule is activated and reacts with H atoms resulting from H 2 at 100 °C. Resultant hydrogenated species (NH) is further reduced to NH 3 that desorbs from palladium at the temperature. The processes make catalytic conversion of N 2 to NH 3 with H 2 at low temperatures feasible.