Elemental 2D Materials: Solution‐Processed Synthesis and Applications in Electrochemical Ammonia Production

Abstract

Graphene and related elemental 2D materials have become core materials in nanotechnology and shown great promise for industrially important electrocatalysis reactions. Although excellent progress has been made over the past few years, research into the field of elemental 2D materials beyond graphene is still at an early stage. Importantly, recent research has revealed the promising efficacy of elemental 2D materials as effective nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) electrocatalysts due to their many excellent properties including high surface activities, acting as active sites for effective functionalization and defect engineering. This review provides a comprehensive account of recent advances in elemental 2D materials with a major focus on the solution-based synthesis routes and their applications in electrocatalytic NRR for ammonia (NH 3 ) production. After a concise overview of elemental 2D materials, the advantages and challenges of currently available methods for the synthesis of these 2D materials are discussed. Then, the review focuses on the use of these emerging 2D materials in the electrocatalytic reduction of N 2 for sustainable (NH 3 ) synthesis. Finally, the challenges still to be addressed, and important perspectives in this attractive field are emphasized.

Recent advances in nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts for N-cycle electrocatalysis

“…Furthermore, Sun's [144] and Zhang's [145] groups discussed performance-improving strategies for NRR electrocatalysts and electrocatalytic systems in 2020. In 2021, Batmunkh's [146] and Shao's [147] groups reviewed the NRR performances of two-dimensional (2D) materials. Jayaramulu's group [148] summarized advances in graphene functionalization toward electrochemical NRR.…”

Gelatin-assisted co-exfoliation of graphene nanoplatelets/MoS2for high-performance supercapacitors

“…have been employed to prepare the MoS 2 and graphene (G) hybrid. [16][17][18] The synthesis of G/MoS 2 heterostructure composites undergoes several steps under harsh conditions and is time and energy-consuming. 19,20 For mass production, the preparation process of G/MoS 2 is inappropriate and unsatisfactory.…”

Defect and interface engineering in metal sulfide catalysts for the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction: a review

“…9,10 In order to cleave the high energy N^N triple bonds (941 kJ mol À1 ) and improve the conversion rate, extremely high temperatures (400-600 C) and pressures are needed in the Haber-Bosch process. [11][12][13] Moreover, the H 2 used in this process is mainly derived from fossil fuels via water-gas shi or steam methane reforming, therefore emitting a large amount of CO 2 . It is estimated that 1-2% of global energy is consumed and 300-400 million tons of CO 2 (accounting for 3% of the global CO 2 emission) are generated annually during NH 3 synthesis.…”