In 2021, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Priority Programme “Interlinking catalysts, mechanisms and reactor concepts for the conversion of dinitrogen by electrocatalytic, photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic methods(“Nitroconversion”)” (SPP 2370). The programme is designed to run for six years. The present call invites proposals for the second three-year funding period (2026–2028).

With 945 kJ/mol, the triple bond of the dinitrogen (N2) molecule has one of the highest dissociation enthalpies among covalent bonds. Nowadays, more than 180 million tons of ammonia are produced from N2 worldwide every year, based on the Haber-Bosch process. The rapid growth of the world’s population would not have been possible without this industrial “artificial N2 conversion”. Downsides of this technology are, however, the high energy demand, the large CO2 emissions associated with this process (for 1 ton of ammonia, 20-40 GJ are required and 1.5 tons of CO2 are produced) and the need of large centralised production sites, which is impeding decentralisation.

In view of the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, ongoing energy transitions and the development of alternative concepts for the activation of small molecules, new approaches for artificial N2 conversion are in demand. This includes (photo)electrocatalysis or photocatalysis, which can be operated decentralised under less harsh conditions and powered by renewable electricity or light. Although intensely researched, the overall energy demand of these approaches for N2 conversion is still significantly higher, and the space-time yield is far too low to compete with the Haber-Bosch process. Notably, scales of the overall catalytic processes from the nano to the meter level are in most cases investigated isolated from each other, which hampers a disruptive breakthrough.

The Priority Programme SPP 2370 focuses on the development of heterogeneous 

• electrocatalytic,
• photocatalytic and
• photoelectrochemical

N2 conversion reactions for delocalised and sustainable N2 conversion pathways with – as a long-term objective – an overall energy consumption and space-time yield comparable to the Haber-Bosch process. 

This is to be achieved by establishing insights into structure/activity relationships for catalysts including experimental and theoretical design strategies, along with developing novel electrode and reactor concepts. The aim is to overcome N2 mass transfer limitations, and by using novel analytical techniques to investigate the underlying mechanisms to be able to design catalysts rationally, and to develop new reaction pathways. The SPP is explicitly not limited to N2 conversion processes to ammonia but can also include research on oxidative conversions. Moreover, the respective counter reaction should be analysed in detail as well. 

Molecular catalysts and immobilised molecular catalysts on surfaces as well as biological approaches are not part of this Priority Programme. Likewise, plasma-enhanced processes are excluded as well. 

The Priority Programme SPP 2370 focuses on the development of heterogeneous electrocatalytic, photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical N2 conversion reactions. Propositions within this programme should use solid materials for artificial dinitrogen conversion. The formation of consortia of multiple principle investigators (preferably 2-3) is envisioned, and joint proposals should cover at least two of the three following areas: 

• catalyst synthesis and their physicochemical characterisation
• experimental and/or theoretical investigation of reaction mechanisms
• reaction engineering.

Ideas for novel material classes as absorbers or catalysts are welcome as well as model systems to be studied for the understanding of elementary steps at the solid-liquid interface. The submission of proposals interlinking research on electrocatalysis with photoelectrochemistry and/or photocatalysis to identify common design strategies is greatly encouraged. Proposals should put special emphasis on the interlink with other projects to strengthen the interdisciplinary character of the SPP. Here, we encourage possible PIs to discuss and connect complementary project ideas already in the submission phase to form topical clusters. The participation of junior research groups and researchers in early career phases in the consortia is greatly encouraged.

Please submit your proposal to the DFG by 8 July 2025. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal(externer Link), the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system, in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted.

If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 1 July 2025. During the registration process, select “SPP 2370” from the list of calls. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.

If you wish to submit a proposal for a new project within the existing Priority Programme, please go to Proposal Submission – New Project – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 2370” from the current list of calls. Previous applicants can submit a proposal for the renewal of an existing project under Proposal Submission – Proposal Overview/Renewal Proposal. 

When preparing your proposal, please note the Guidelines Priority Programme (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”) and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)). These forms are available on the DFG website(interner Link) and through the elan portal.

The role and responsibilities assigned to each principal investigator and scientific co-worker should be evident from the work programme within the proposal, specifically the tasks to be completed by PhD students or postdocs. In the case of joint proposals, the assignment of requested funds to the individual PIs should also be evident.

Please send a copy of the summary of your final proposal by e-mail to the coordinator, so that the coordinator can plan the review colloquium early.

The review colloquium for the Priority Programme will be held on 9/10 October 2025 in Bayreuth.

Equity and Diversity

The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.

Good Research Practice

According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Good Research Practice(externer Link) in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the Research Integrity Portal(externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity team(externer Link) at the DFG Head Office. 

Further Information

Please find detailed information on the Priority Programme here(externer Link).

When submitting a proposal, please use the elan portal(externer Link) and refer to the Guidelines Priority Programme (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”), and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)). The FAQ about preparing a proposal(interner Link) may also be helpful.

For scientific enquiries, please contact the Priority Programme coordinator:

Professor Dr. Roland Marschall, Universität Bayreuth, phone +49 921 552760, roland.marschall@uni-bayreuth.de(externer Link)

Questions on the DFG proposal process can be directed to:

Programme contact: 

Dr. Kerstin Freitag, Physics and Chemistry, phone +49 228 885-2352, kerstin.freitag@dfg.de(externer Link)

Administrative contact:

Ralph Kirschbaum, Physics and Chemistry, phone +49 228 885-2326, ralph.kirschbaum@dfg.de(externer Link)