Project Grant 2555780

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded The Johns Hopkins University $650,000 on August 15, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program to develop new nonheme iron complexes for nitrogen oxide activation and electrocatalysis.

Dr. David P. Goldberg and Dr. V. Sara Thoi will investigate iron-based chemical systems designed to convert nitrogen oxide pollutants (NOx) into ammonia through electrochemical processes inspired by natural iron-containing enzymes. The work addresses environmental pollution from fertilizer runoff and wastewater while advancing carbon-free chemical manufacturing. The research will create a new family of nonheme iron complexes that bind and activate nitrogen oxide species, including nitric oxide and nitrite, and will examine these compounds as synthetic analogs of biologically important iron-containing enzymes and as catalysts for selective electrochemical conversion of nitrite to ammonia in water.

The project supports NSF priorities in advanced manufacturing by developing safer, more efficient chemical processes using earth-abundant materials under mild conditions, reducing energy use and waste compared to traditional industrial methods. It also contributes to biotechnology by advancing understanding of biologically important nitrogen transformations and iron-containing systems that organisms use to process nitrogen compounds.

Graduate and undergraduate students will receive interdisciplinary training in chemical synthesis, catalysis, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy through collaborations with multiple U.S. research institutions. Outreach activities will engage Baltimore City high school students in hands-on chemistry experiences designed to increase STEM interest and participation.

Performance occurs in Baltimore, Maryland, with a period of performance from the award date through July 31, 2029.