An analysis of ammonia synthesis by the model of Selective Energy Transfer (SET)

Abstract

The SET theory implies that energy is transferred from the catalyst system via infrared radiation to the molecules that are supposed to react. In previous investigations it has been demonstrated that the activation of the reacting species-as long as the molecules are infrared active-can occur at low adsorption strength. However, for molecules that are IR inactive, e.g. dinitrogen, this is not possible.