MOF-derived Fe2O3/MoSe2 Heterostructure for Promoted Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

Due to the low activity and poor selectivity of current artificial nitrogen fixation catalysts, there is an urgent need to develop efficient and environmentally friendly Electrochemical ammonia synthesis (EAS) electrocatalysts. Electrochemical ammonia synthesis is considered an environmentally friendly and sustainable method for artificial nitrogen fixation. Herein, Fe2O3 nanoparticles assembled on MoSe2 (Fe2O3/MoSe2) were first developed and regarded as an efficient electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation catalyst with high electroactive. The Fe2O3/MoSe2 composites exhibited excellent NRR activity with an NH3 yield of 55.52 µg∙h− 1∙mg− 1 at -0.5 V and Faradaic efficiency of 9.6% at -0.6 V vs. RHE. Notably, the Fe2O3/MoSe2 composites exhibited excellent stability and durability in recycling tests. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the interfacial charge transport from Fe2O3 to MoSe2 could significantly enhance the Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) activity of Fe2O3/MoSe2 by promoting the conductivity of Fe2O3/MoSe2 and reducing the free energy barrier for the rate-determining of *N2 to *N2H formation step. This work provides a promising avenue for the green synthesis of NH3.