Project Grant 2555960

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded Montana State University $575,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for research on molecular catalysts that convert nitrogen gas to ammonia and related compounds.

Professor Michael Mock and his team in the Department of Chemistry are developing metal compounds using inexpensive and widely available metals—nickel, chromium, and iron—as catalysts to enable the interconversion of dinitrogen and ammonia. The project will establish strategies using visible light energy to weaken nitrogen or ammonia molecule bonds in the presence of these catalysts, and will study hydrogen addition and removal through chemical, electrical, or light-driven mechanisms. The research aims to create metal compounds that perform dual function in both ammonia formation and ammonia-to-nitrogen conversion, positioning the work as an energy storage scheme.

The project includes educational components: Professor Mock will host undergraduate students from primarily undergraduate institutions across Montana and nationwide in his laboratory to acquire hands-on research skills in synthetic chemistry and catalysis, and will conduct outreach activities at area primary and secondary schools focused on energy technologies.

Performance occurs at Montana State University's Bozeman, Montana campus from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029.