Self-powered NH₃ synthesis by trifunctional Co₂B-based high power density Zn–air batteries

Abstract

Electrochemical production of NH3 by Zn-air battery would be a viable and economical approach to realize sustainable and competent energy conversion. We report the environment friendly, cost-effective and energy efficient...

Operando scanning electrochemical microscopic investigation and visualization of NRR-HER competition in electrochemical NH3 synthesis

“…4d displays a distinct triplet for 14 NH 4 + in the 1 H-NMR spectra acquired after NRRs using 14 N 2 as a feeding gas. In contrast, a doublet is witnessed when 15 N 2 was used as a feeding gas during isotope labelling experiments 12 under identical experimental conditions. This unambiguously designate that the NH 3 production arises from the N 2 reduction rather than any N-contaminants.…”

“…The cell setup, electrolyte solution, electrode surface and gas-supplies were cleansed throughout the experiment by the rigorous purification procedures reported in the literature. 12 The N-labile impurities such as NH 4 + /NO x in the gas-supplies were quantified by colorimetric and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses, before and after treatment with the scrubbing solution (comprising alkaline KMnO 4 and H 2 SO 4 separately) 41 to eliminate the effect of contaminants (Fig. S2 and Table S2, ESI†).…”

“…8–10 Although there are several theoretical investigations, 9,11 but only few experimental reports are available in the literature for TMBs as NRR catalysts. 12–16 Among several classes of TMBs, nickel boride compounds are considered as versatile catalysts due to which we envision that Ni x B y can emerge as a promising catalyst for NRR. 17–19 Moreover, the modification of nickel borides by the addition of other transition metals acts as one of the most efficient routes to enhance the performance towards electrocatalytic applications and selective hydrogenation reactions by tuning the electronic structures.…”

A perspective on the future of electrochemical ammonia synthesis: aqueous or non-aqueous?

“…Nonetheless, the isotope labelling experiments must be conducted to affirm the origin of ammonia, and the 15 NH 4 + yield rate must also be in quantitative agreement with the 14 NH 4 + yield. 49,50 These isotope labelling experiments need to be performed by following a well-established protocol 26,47,51,52 as mentioned below.…”

“…Due to this, there are reports in which a high ammonia yield rate is achieved, which can meet the practical standards. Very recently, Gupta et al 52 reported a remarkable NH 3 production yield rate of 2980.20 μg h −1 mg cat −1 at −0.3 V ( vs. RHE) after ENRR by Co 2 B catalyst in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. This report explored Zn–O 2 battery-powered NH 3 synthesis by trifunctional Co 2 B catalyst and revealed a high ammonia yield rate of 1.048 μg h −1 mg cat −1 under full cell conditions.…”