Rational construction of Au₃Cu@Cu nanocages with porous core–shell heterostructured walls for enhanced electrocatalytic N₂fixation

Abstract

Current methods for industrial-scale ammonia synthesis rely excessively on fossil fuels, causing severe CO2 emissions. Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology for ammonia synthesis...

Increased Oxygen Vacancies in CeO2 for Improved Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Performance

“…Some noble metal-based catalysts like Ru, Pd, and Au show favorable electrochemical NRR performance, while their high cost and scarcity limit their widespread application. − Tremendous explorations have been focused on earth-abundant non-noble materials including metal nitrides, carbides, and oxides. − Owing to the great stability and excellent catalytic activity, various metal oxides like Ti 2 O 3 , WO 3 , and Co 3 O 4 have been paid much attention in the electrocatalytic field. − CeO 2 has been applied to NRR fields due to characteristics like chemical stability and outstanding electronic properties. For instance, this reported CeO 2 nanorods with oxygen vacancies deliver an ammonia yield rate of 16.4 μg h –1 mg cat –1 and a faradic efficiency (FE) of 3.7% at −0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) .…”

Rational Synthesis and Regulation of Hollow Structural Materials for Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

“…and an excellent FE of 21.41% at 0.1 m Na 2 SO 4 . [ 167 ] The hollow porous heterostructure effectively increased the specific surface area while limiting the reactant to increase the contact frequency between the active site and the reactant. At the same time, the outer layer of Cu readily inhibited competitive HER, which would improve the NRR selectivity.…”

Cu/CuOx In-Plane Heterostructured Nanosheet Arrays with Rich Oxygen Vacancies Enhance Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

“…Copper (Cu)-based materials are reported as one of the most active and selective candidates for electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction, which benefits from their improved inhibition of hydrogen evolution. Moreover, the energy level of Cu’s d-orbital is close to that of nitrate’s LUMO π* molecular orbital. ,, During the last decade, interest has mounted in atomically low-cost two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet materials, which possess distinctive attributes including desirable morphology with a high specific surface area and countless bonding sites and superior reaction dynamics due to the shortened transportation route. − Engineering structural defects such as oxygen vacancy in oxides is a powerful strategy to regulate the crystalline structure, electronic structure, and surface properties. − Moreover, the interface effect in heterogeneous structures can adjust the electronic structure and active sites, optimize the properties of the material, and then improve their catalytic efficiency. − Hence, in combination with the characteristics of 2D morphology, structural defects, and interface effect of Cu-based nanomaterials, the construction of new 2D in-plane heterostructure is very beneficial to improve the electrochemical NO 3 – -to-NH 3 conversion activity.…”

“…Moreover, the energy level of Cu's d-orbital is close to that of nitrate's LUMO π* molecular orbital. 39,42,43 During the last decade, interest has mounted in atomically low-cost two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet materials, which possess distinctive attributes including desirable morphology with a high specific surface area and countless bonding sites and superior reaction dynamics due to the shortened transportation route. 44−54 Engineering structural defects such as oxygen vacancy in oxides is a powerful strategy to regulate the crystalline structure, electronic structure, and surface properties.…”