Remarkable catalysis of a wool-like copper electrode for NH₃ synthesis from N₂ and H₂ in non-thermal atmospheric plasma

A wool-like copper electrode used to produce non-thermal plasma functioned as an efficient catalyst for ammonia production from N₂ and H₂ under atmospheric pressure without heating. The catalytic activity increased as the experiments were repeated. The yield of ammonia at H₂/N₂ = 3 was 3.5%. The intensity of the emission spectra of N₂*(C-B) bands was correlated with the ammonia synthesis rate.