Method of continuous electrochemical dinitrogen reduction

A method of continuous electrochemical dinitrogen reduction to produce ammonia, the method comprising:

• supplying dinitrogen to an electrochemical cell comprising an electrolyte in contact with at least a cathode;
• introducing protons to the electrolyte by anodic oxidation of a hydrogen-containing species;
• and
• cathodically reducing the dinitrogen in the presence of a metal selected from lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, aluminium and vanadium to produce ammonia,
• wherein the electrolyte comprises a cationic proton carrier capable of reversible deprotonation to form a neutral proton acceptor,
• wherein the neutral proton acceptor is an ylide, and
• wherein the cathodically reducing the dinitrogen comprises reacting the dinitrogen and the cationic proton carrier to produce ammonia and to form the neutral proton acceptor.