FeP nanorod array: A high-efficiency catalyst for electroreduction of NO to NH3 under ambient conditions

et al. 2022

Nano Research Energy

Self Cite

330

229

To restore the natural nitrogen cycle (N-cycle), artificial N-cycle electrocatalysis with flexibility, sustainability, and compatibility can convert intermittent renewable energy (e.g., wind) to harmful or value-added chemicals with minimal carbon emissions. The background of such N-cycles, such as nitrogen fixation, ammonia oxidation, and nitrate reduction, is briefly introduced here. The discussion of emerging nanostructures in various conversion reactions is focused on the architecture/compositional design, electrochemical performances, reaction mechanisms, and instructive tests. Energy device advancements for achieving more functions as well as in situ/operando characterizations toward understanding key steps are also highlighted. Furthermore, some recently proposed reactions as well as less discussed C-N coupling reactions are also summarized. We classify inorganic nitrogen sources that convert to each other under an applied voltage into three types, namely, abundant nitrogen, toxic nitrate (nitrite), and nitrogen oxides, and useful compounds such as ammonia, hydrazine, and hydroxylamine, with the goal of providing more critical insights into strategies to facilitate the development of our circular nitrogen economy.

Section: Metal-n2 Based Batteriesmentioning

confidence: 84%

Recent advances in nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts for N-cycle electrocatalysis

Sun

Liang

et al. 2022

Nano Research Energy

Self Cite

330

229

“…The nitrate not only is a thermodynamically stable form of nitrogen but also is converted to ammonia with the accompaniment of various nitrogen compounds, such as NO 2 – , N 2 , and N 2 H 4 . , Thus, it urgently needs to develop heterogeneous catalysts in electrocatalytic systems in order to promote the selectivity and efficiency of this complicated eight-electron transfer reaction (NO 3 – + 9H + + 8e – → NH 3 + 3H 2 O). At present, more attention is focused on the design and development of some metal-free and non-noble metal-based materials, such as metal sulfides, oxides, and phosphides, which have been widely investigated due to their abundance, nontoxicity, and ecofriendly uses. − Among them, bismuth is well known and has a long and fascinating history, which is regarded as a “green” element, and bismuth sulfide (Bi 2 S 3 ) has a narrow direct band-gap energy and reasonable conversion efficiency of incident photons to electrons. These features closely interrelate with the orthorhombic structure of Bi 2 S 3 , of which each Bi 3+ ion is in a highly distorted octahedral geometry .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterostructured Bi₂S₃/MoS₂ Nanoarrays for Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Under Ambient Conditions

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

et al. 2022

Developing efficient electrocatalysts to realize the nitrate reduction reaction (eNO 3 − RR) for ammonia synthesis as an alternative to the traditional Haber−Bosch production process is of great significance. Herein, the heterostructured Bi 2 S 3 /MoS 2 nanoarrays were successfully synthesized by Bi 2 S 3 nanowires anchored on MoS 2 nanosheets. Owing to the interfacial coupling effect, both particular surface area and exposure active sites increase. Density functional theory further uncovered that the excellent activity originates from charge transfer of the interface and a low potential barrier of 0.58 eV for hydrogenation of *NO to *NOH on Bi 2 S 3 /MoS 2 . Compared with pure Bi 2 S 3 and MoS 2 catalysts, the heterostructured Bi 2 S 3 /MoS 2 nanoarrays exhibit a superior NH 3 yield of 15.04 × 10 −2 mmol•h −1 •cm −2 and a Faraday efficiency of 88.4% at −0.8 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. This work provides a new avenue to explore advanced electrocatalysts, which is expected to shorten the distance from the practical application of the eNO 3 − RR technology.

“…Theoretical calculations indicate that the metallic Mn 2 CoO 4 surface has strong interaction with NO 3 – , which facilitates the electrocatalytic conversion of NO 3 – to NH 3 and inhibits HER side reaction. This work not only offers an efficient earth-abundant electrocatalyst but also promotes further design and development of Mn-based spinel oxide nanomaterials for the selective electroreduction of harmful NO x pollutants , and nitrogen oxyanions , into highly value-added NH 3 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

High-Efficiency Electrosynthesis of Ammonia with Selective Reduction of Nitrate in Neutral Media Enabled by Self-Supported Mn₂CoO₄ Nanoarray

Xie

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

Sun

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Ambient ammonia synthesis by electroreduction of nitrate (NO3 –) provides us a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. In this work, Mn2CoO4 nanoarray grown on carbon cloth (Mn2CoO4/CC) serves as a superior electrocatalyst for efficient NH3 synthesis by selective reduction of NO3 –. When operated in 0.1 M PBS with 0.1 M NaNO3, Mn2CoO4/CC reaches a high Faraday efficiency of 98.6% and a large NH3 yield up to 11.19 mg/h/cm2. Moreover, it exhibits excellent electrocatalytic stability. Theory calculations show that the Mn2CoO4 surface has strong interaction with NO3 –, which can effectively inhibit the occurrence of hydrogen evolution, beneficial for NO3 –-to-NH3 conversion.