Highlights

• Researchers created a novel catalyst using iron, cobalt, and ruthenium on rare earth oxides to produce ammonia more efficiently.
• The new method works 3 times faster than previous models and operates at lower temperatures and pressures.
• This innovation highlights China's strategic advantage in rare earth materials and clean energy technology.

Scientists in China have created a new way to make ammonia, a key ingredient for fertilizer and clean energy, using rare earth materials like cerium (Ce) and gadolinium (Gd). This innovation, reported by the Shanghai Association for Rare Earth (opens in a new tab) and published in ACS Publications, could lead to cheaper, cleaner, and more energy-efficient production of ammonia.

What They Did

Researchers built a special surface (called a catalyst) using a mix of three metals: iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and a small amount of ruthenium (Ru) on a support made from rare earth oxides—cerium and gadolinium. This support helps move electrons more easily, making it easier to break nitrogen bonds (one of the most challenging steps in producing ammonia).

The best version of their catalyst (Ru/FeCo on Gd-doped CeO₂) worked over 3 times faster than older models. It stayed stable for a long time and worked well even at lower temperatures and pressures, which means less energy is needed.

Why It Matters for the U.S. and Western Countries

• Rare earth materials like cerium and gadolinium are critical to this innovation, and China controls most of the world’s supply.
• Ammonia is not just used for farming—it’s also a promising clean fuel for the future. Whoever makes it cleaner and cheaper gains an energy advantage.
• China is demonstrating that rare earths aren’t just for magnets or phones—they’re also crucial in chemical and energy breakthroughs.
• This research bridges basic materials science with real-world manufacturing and green technology, a model that Western countries need to replicate.

Bottom Line

This isn’t just science—it’s strategy. Western rare earth and clean energy industries need to think beyond mining. The race is on to turn rare earths into high-tech products, and China is moving fast.  Is the West paying attention?