Ammonia heterogeneous photocatalytic synthesis

Miyama H, Fujii N, Nagae Y. (1980). Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Synthesis of Ammonia from Water and Nitrogen. Chem Phys Lett. 74, 523-4. 

Laboratory-scale processes for nitrogen fixation II. Heterogeneous photocatalytic ammonia synthesis... 

Despite many studies there is available, at this time, no unequivocal report of artificial photocatalytic synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and water on heterogeneous catalysts. The chemical reaction 1, shown at the beginning of this chapter, remains speculative 17 years after it was initially reported. No rational start has yet been made on determining a mechanism for the reported nitrogen fixation process, despite the fact that a clear demonstration and understanding of any such process would be of great importance. Despite 17 years of research, the reported yields of ammonia from artificial photosynthesis remain at or near the limits of detection by routine analytical methods. As we stated earlier in this chapter, the concept of a major discovery that remains forever on the borderline of detectability is internally contradictory. The current state of the field is one where serious scientific skepticism is appropriate. 

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