Welcome to the new edition of our DARE2X interview series! In these brief chats, we introduce you to our project partners, exploring their roles in developing our innovative and decentralised ammonia (NH₃) technology. Discover how this DARE2X solution will be made safe and learn about its numerous benefits for society. For this time, we spoke with our partners at the National Institute of Chemistry.

The National Institute of Chemistry is one of the key partners in a consortium of world-leading research institutions, and innovative R&D-performing SMEs from different countries. Tell us a little bit about your group and research activities.
Tell us a little bit about your group and research activities.
The DARE2X team at the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) consist of:

• Professor Blaž Likozar, head of department, with a background in chemical engineering is overseeing the project.
• Associate Professor Matej Huš, computational modelling, with a background in computational chemistry is in charge of ab initio modelling
• Matic Pavlin, postdoc, with a background in simulations, is responsible for molecular dynamics simulations of catalyst support and ammonia interactions
• Katja Vodlan, PhD candidate, is working on catalysis synthesis, characterization and evaluation for plasma synthesis of ammonia.

Wanting to know more, could you provide more details about your organisation?
NIC is Slovenia’s premier research institution, employing 437 staff, including 364 researchers across nine departments and two infrastructure centers, with 179 holding PhDs. Our core activities focus on pioneering basic and applied research in materials science, biotechnology, life sciences, chemical engineering, and environmental protection. Our work supports key industries, from pharmaceuticals to nanotechnology, aligning with EU Horizon 2020 priorities in health, climate, and sustainability. NIC also plays a crucial role in graduate education, training 130 PhD candidates through the Young Researchers Program, who comprise 34% of our team. Our collaborations with industry contribute 20% of our revenue and support innovative product and technology development. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities, NIC actively engages in global scientific challenges. We were the first research institution in Slovenia to earn ISO 9001 certification, underscoring our commitment to excellence and operational effectiveness.

Following up, in your opinion, which aspects of your research in DARE2X are the most innovative?
The most innovative aspects of DARE2X is using plasma as a medium for catalytic reactions. While conventional catalytic reactions use heat as an energy source and are thermocatalysed, using plasma opens ways to greener production methods. This is achieved by a controlled energy injection. The most innovative aspect is how to experimentally carry out catalytic reactions in plasma and how to model these excited states theoretically.

One of the key pillars of implementing the DARE2X solution is to raise awareness about how our disruptive ammonia technology will be safe and sustainable. How will your contribution to DARE2X improve everyday life for society?
Society is highly dependent on sustainable and accessible ammonia, which is used for the production of fertilizers. In this project, new and environmentally friendly methods for producing ammonia are developed. This will make its production cheaper, which will have beneficial effects on the society.

Finally, the R&D, innovation, and demonstration of the DARE2X technology involve significant efforts and hard work in the consortium. What are the main challenges in your work in DARE2X?
Producing ammonia is difficult and reactions in plasma remain poorly understood. The main challenges in the experimental and theoretical aspects of the work are both connected to plasma. Experimentally, it is challenging to use plasma for catalysis, including catalyst preparation and testing. Computationally, plasma is a highly energetic state, where conventional ground state techniques fail.