The Sydney team’s approach uses plasma to excite nitrogen and oxygen in the air, then converts those molecules into ammonia gas through a membrane-based electrolyzer.

Lab to gas-based breakthrough

The study outlines how this two-step method avoids several inefficiencies of previous attempts. Most other labs had only managed to produce ammonia in liquid form, ammonium, which requires more processing to become usable gas. The new method bypasses that step.

“In this research we’ve successfully developed a method that allows air to be converted to ammonia in its gaseous form using electricity,” said Professor PJ Cullen, lead researcher from the University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. “A huge step towards our goals.”

The development also opens the door to low-cost, scalable, and decentralized production of green ammonia, especially important for rural or off-grid locations.