High-Performance N<sub>2</sub>-to-NH<sub>3</sub> Conversion Electrocatalyzed by Mo<sub>2</sub>C Nanorod

Xiang Ren(University of Electronic Science and Technology of China), Jinxiu Zhao(University of Jinan), Qin Wei(University of Jinan), Yongjun Ma(Southwest University of Science and Technology), Haoran Guo(University of Electronic Science and Technology of China), Qian Liu(University of Electronic Science and Technology of China), Yuan Wang(University of Electronic Science and Technology of China), Guanwei Cui(Shandong Normal University), Abdullah M. Asiri(King Abdulaziz University), Baihai Li(University of Electronic Science and Technology of China), Bo Tang(Shandong Normal University), Xuping Sun(University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)
ACS Central Science
December 19, 2018
10.1021/acscentsci.8b00734
Cited by 346Open Access
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Abstract

The synthesis of NH3 is mainly dominated by the traditional energy-consuming Haber–Bosch process with a mass of CO2 emission. Electrochemical conversion of N2 to NH3 emerges as a carbon-free process for the sustainable artificial N2 reduction reaction (NRR), but requires an efficient and stable electrocatalyst. Here, we report that the Mo2C nanorod serves as an excellent NRR electrocatalyst for artificial N2 fixation to NH3 with strong durability and acceptable selectivity under ambient conditions. Such a catalyst shows a high Faradaic efficiency of 8.13% and NH3 yield of 95.1 μg h–1 mg–1cat at −0.3 V in 0.1 M HCl, surpassing the majority of reported electrochemical conversion NRR catalysts. Density functional theory calculation was carried out to gain further insight into the catalytic mechanism involved.

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