SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF CATALYSTS AND PLASMAS ON THE SYNTHESIS OF AMMONIA AND HYDRAZINE

The synergistic effects of driving frequency of the discharge and catalysis of iron and molybdenum wires when they are placed in nitrogen-hydrogen radio-frequency and microwave plasmas were investigated. The ammonia yield increased in the plasmas prepared using both driving frequencies, but the hydrazine yield increased only in the radio-freguency discharge with the catalysts. The direct adsorption of NHx formed in the plasma on the catalyst surface followed by the formation of NH3 and N2H4 are considered as a reaction scheme in the radio-frequency discharge. On the other hand, the adsorption of N atoms and/or formation of the metal-N bond favors the formation of ammonia but does not affect the hydrazine formation in the microwave discharge.