Highly-Active Metal Complexes for Low Temperature Thermocatalytic Ammonia Production

About the Project

Ammonia is a critical chemical feedstock and energy carrier, central to global agriculture and increasingly important in the emerging hydrogen economy. However, its large-scale production today remains dominated by the energy-intensive Haber–Bosch process, which operates at high temperatures (400–500 °C) and pressures (150–300 bar).. To enable a sustainable transition, there is a growing need for alternative catalytic pathways capable of producing ammonia under milder operating conditions, ideally compatible with renewable energy sources.

This project seeks to design, synthesise, and investigate highly-active metal complexes that can catalyse ammonia production under low-temperature and low-pressure conditions. By leveraging the tunability of metal–ligand environments, these complexes offer opportunities to promote efficient nitrogen activation and hydrogenation without the severe energy requirements of traditional approaches.

The research will focus on the following areas:

• Ligand and metal selection: Developing complexes based on earth-abundant transition metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, Mo) with carefully designed ligands to stabilise active species and lower the energy barrier for N₂ activation.
• Mechanistic studies: Using spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques to elucidate the reaction pathways, including N₂ binding, activation, and stepwise proton-coupled electron transfer.
• Catalyst optimisation: Exploring strategies to improve turnover frequency, selectivity, and durability under ambient or near-ambient conditions.
• Integration with hydrogen sources: Evaluating compatibility with green hydrogen or alternative hydrogen carriers to ensure alignment with sustainable energy inputs.

By advancing fundamental understanding and practical design of molecular catalysts for ammonia synthesis, this project has the potential to provide a low-carbon alternative to the Haber–Bosch process. Successful outcomes would contribute not only to decarbonising ammonia production for fertiliser industries but also to enabling its role as a clean hydrogen carrier, thereby supporting global net-zero ambitions.

Candidates are required to have the following:

• First class in an Engineering/Science degree, preferably in Chemical Engineering/Physics/Chemistry
• Strong command of written and oral English
• Strong interest in catalysis, alternative fuels and green technology development
• Possess good impact scholarly publications (eg: first author in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal article)
• Able to perform independent research and be a team player

Interested candidates who satisfy the criteria above should provide the following to Prof Chong Meng Nan (Chong.Meng.Nan@monash.edu) in their application:

• A 1-page cover letter that outlines your skills and experience
• CV which includes your education background and your publication record (if any)
• Evidence of English proficiency test (if any) (eg: IELTS, TOEFL)

How To Apply

It is suggested that you first contact the main supervisor and provide them with your academic background and achievements to determine whether you are a 'fit' for this research topic. If you feel you are a 'fit', please click here to complete an Expression of Interest, including your research proposal relevant to this project. Your EoI will be assessed and if you are eligible you will be invited to apply for PhD candidature and may be selected to interview for the scholarship

IMPORTANT: Starting May 2026, the Expression of Interest process described above will no longer apply. Updated application instructions will be available on this page from 4 May 2026.

Funding Notes

This project is funded by the Centre for Net-Zero Technology. Successful PhD candidates will be paid a stipend with fully-funded tuition fees.