Aluminium–nitrogen batteries offer alternative ammonia synthesis
Battery simultaneously stores energy and harnesses nitrogen to produce aluminium nitride
A newly developed battery based on aluminium, nitrogen and a specialised ionic liquid electrolyte can be used for energy storage via a net reaction that produces aluminium nitride by breaking the challenging nitrogen–nitrogen triple bond. Aluminium nitride can be converted to ammonia, opening a new avenue for coupling energy generation and the production of nitrogen-containing compounds, without relying on industrial routes that contribute to global warming.