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Presents a report on the super-iron battery. Higher capacity batteries based on unusual stabilized iron (VI) chemistry; Compatibility with the alkaline and metal hydride battery anodes; Higher cathode capacity; Advantages over the conventional alkaline batteries; Ability to be recharged.

The Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia for fertilizer currently relies on carbon-intensive steam reforming of methane as a hydrogen source. We present an electrochemical pathway in which ammonia is produced by electrolysis of air and steam in a molten hydroxide suspension of nano-Fe2O3. At 200°C in an electrolyte with a molar ratio of 0.5 NaOH/0.5 KOH, ammonia is produced at 1.2 volts (V) under 2 milliamperes per centimeter squared (mA cm-2) of applied current at coulombic efficiency of 35% (35% of the applied current results in the six-electron conversion of N2 and water to ammonia, and excess H2 is cogenerated with the ammonia). At 250°C and 25 bar of steam pressure, the electrolysis voltage necessary for 2 mA cm-2 current density decreased to 1.0 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]