On behalf of the Journal of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, as Editor-in-Chief, it is my distinct honour and privilege to welcome you to the Journal of Environmental and Toxicology Studies.

The Journal of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry aims to disseminate knowledge and promote discussion through the publication of peer-reviewed, high quality research papers on all topics related to Chemistry. The open access journal is published by Insight Medical Publishing who hosts open access peer-reviewed journals as well as organizes conferences that hosts the work of researchers in a manner that exemplifies the highest standards in research integrity.

Ammonia (NH₃) is a naturally occurring chemical in the environment, but its widespread use as an important ingredient in various manufacturing processes has made it one of the most produced chemicals. It is pivotal in the production of fertilizers and helps to increase the yield of various crops. Owing to its high demand, well over 150 million tons of NH₃ are produced yearly. Not surprisingly, chemists have been actively looking for eco-friendly and energy-efficient ways of synthesizing NH₃.

The conventional way to produce NH₃ is by directly using nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂) gases. But, breaking the strong bond between N atoms is challenging. This is where catalysts (materials that facilitate the necessary reactions) come into play. Unfortunately, today's best performing catalyst for NH₃ synthesis requires ruthenium, a rare and expensive metal. In an effort to find alternatives, scientists from Tokyo Tech, including Dr. Tian-Nan Ye, Prof Masaaki Kitano, and Prof Hideo Hosono, have recently tried to find out exactly what makes a good catalyst for breaking N₂ and producing NH₃.

The nitrogen vacancies in the catalyst's surface can easily capture N₂ and weaken its N-N bond, after which atoms dissociated from H₂ at the Ni nanoparticles jump onto the protruding N atom to produce NH₃. In addition, dissociated H atoms can also form NH₃ directly using N atoms from the catalyst crystalline lattice itself, thus creating new nitrogen vacancies in the process. Following the success of their previous Ni/LaN catalyst, in this study, they created and compared similar catalysts with different nitrogen vacancy formation energies (ENV).

We always welcome and encourage new research works on our Journal of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. (Tap on the link to submit manuscript)

With regards,
Amelia Charlotte
Managing Editor
Journal of Organic & Inorganic Chemistry
WhatsApp: +3225889658