Fullerene C60 Supports Award-Winning Low-Pressure Ammonia Synthesis Research by Fuzhou University Team

Reprinted from Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Fuzhou University’s research project “Development and Industrialization of Large-Scale Low-Pressure Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst Technology” has been awarded the Second Prize of the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award of China.

Led by Researcher Jiang Lilong from Fuzhou University, the project represents an important advancement in green ammonia synthesis technology. Fullerene C60 developed and supplied by Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd. contributed as an advanced carbon-based material component in the catalytic innovation behind this achievement.

A Major Breakthrough in Low-Pressure Ammonia Synthesis

On July 8, 2025, the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards were announced in Beijing. Fuzhou University, as the primary organization responsible for the project, received recognition for the project “Development and Industrialization of Large-Scale Low-Pressure Ammonia Synthesis Catalyst Technology.”

Researcher Jiang Lilong attended the award ceremony as the project representative.

Ammonia synthesis has been an essential industrial process for more than a century. However, traditional ammonia production technologies have long relied on high-temperature and high-pressure conditions due to the difficulty of activating the strong nitrogen triple bond (N≡N) and managing hydrogen adsorption behavior on catalyst surfaces.

To address these challenges, research teams from Fuzhou University, Xiamen University, and ShanghaiTech University developed an innovative catalytic strategy using fullerene C60 clusters as molecular promoters.

By anchoring C60 onto ruthenium-based and molybdenum-based catalysts, the researchers created TMs-C60 cooperative catalysts, providing a new pathway for improving catalytic performance under low-pressure ammonia synthesis conditions.

Fullerene C60 as a Molecular Promoter in Advanced Catalysis

In the developed catalytic systems, C60 plays an important role as a molecular-scale promoter involved in hydrogen adsorption, storage, activation, and spillover processes.

Research results showed that the introduction of C60-based promoters improved ammonia synthesis reaction rates across different Mo-based and Ru-based catalyst systems.

This research was published in Nature Chemistry in September 2024, representing a significant scientific advancement in the exploration of low-pressure ammonia synthesis technologies.

Industrial-Scale Fullerene Production Enables New Applications

The transition of fullerene materials from laboratory research to industrial applications requires reliable and scalable production capabilities.

Historically, fullerene materials were mainly available at laboratory scale, limiting their broader industrial adoption. The development of ton-scale production technology has created new opportunities for applying fullerene materials in advanced fields.

Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has collaborated with the research team led by Academician Xie Suyuan to advance combustion synthesis technology for large-scale fullerene production.

Key development milestones include:

• 2019–2021: Joint research on fullerene synthesis using plant-derived raw materials at laboratory scale.
• 2022: Construction began on a ton-scale fullerene production line based on independently designed combustion synthesis technology.
• March 2024: The first combustion-based ton-scale fullerene production line entered commissioning.
• February 2025: The fullerene production line officially entered operation.
• May 2025: Construction started on the second production line, with subsequent commissioning planned.

The establishment of scalable fullerene production capability provides material support for future applications of fullerene in catalysis, energy materials, electronics, and other advanced material fields.

Fullerene C60 Supporting Future Advanced Material Innovation

As a carbon-based nanomaterial, fullerene C60 has attracted research interest in multiple technology areas, including:

• Green chemical catalysis
• Photovoltaic materials
• Organic electronics
• Semiconductor-related materials
• Advanced coatings
• Nanomaterial development
• Biomedical research materials

The successful integration of fullerene C60 into low-pressure ammonia synthesis research demonstrates the expanding role of advanced carbon materials in next-generation technologies.

Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd. will continue focusing on fullerene research, development, and industrialization, supporting the broader adoption of advanced carbon materials from scientific research to industrial applications.

About Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Founded in September 2015, Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is located in Xiyuan Industrial Park, Zhangping City, Fujian Province, China.

The company has a registered capital of RMB 42.98 million, covers an area of approximately 32,000 square meters, and has a building area of approximately 14,000 square meters, with more than 70 employees.

Fujian Healthyking Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in research, development, and manufacturing of advanced carbon materials and natural functional ingredients.

The company utilizes resource recycling technologies, advanced plant extraction methods, and deep-processing technologies to develop and manufacture:

• Fullerene C60/C70
• Stigmasterol monomer
• Plant sterols
• Natural vitamin E

Through continuous innovation in fullerene production technology and material applications, Healthyking supports the development of advanced carbon-based materials for global research and industrial markets.