MODEL OF ACTIVE SURFACE OF IRON CATALYST FOR AMMONIA-SYNTHESIS

The AES method has been used to investigate the iron-potassium-oxygen sysem. A new model of the iron catalyst for the ammonia synthesis reac tion has been proposed, on the grounds of studies on the interactions between potassium, oxygen, and nitrogen on the iron surface. In this s imple model the active sites are located under the layer of potassium atoms and on the layer of iron atoms. A part of those sites are occupi ed by oxygen atoms which stabilize the potassium atoms on the catalyst surface at the temperature of the ammonia synthesis reaction. The pro moting action of potassium in this reaction is effected by the electro n transfer from potassium to the iron surface covered with oxygen.