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Chen J, Guo S, Wang L, Liu S, Wang H, Zhao Q. Atomic Molybdenum Nanomaterials for Electrocatalysis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2401019. [PMID: 38757438 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
As a sustainable energy technology, electrocatalytic energy conversion requires electrocatalysts, which greatly motivates the exploitation of high-performance electrocatalysts based on nonprecious metals. Molybdenum-based nanomaterials have demonstrated promise as electrocatalysts because of their unique physiochemical and electronic properties. Among them, atomic Mo catalysts, also called Mo-based single-atom catalysts (Mo-SACs), have the most accessible active sites and tunable microenvironments and are thrivingly explored in various electrochemical conversion reactions. A timely review of such rapidly developing topics is necessary to provide guidance for further exploration of optimized Mo-SACs toward electrochemical energy technologies. In this review, recent advances in the synthetic strategies for Mo-SACs are highlighted, focusing on the microenvironment engineering of Mo atoms. Then, the representative achievements of their applications in various electrocatalytic reactions involving the N2, H2O, and CO2 cycles are summarized by combining experimental and computational results. Finally, prospects for the future development of Mo-SACs in electrocatalysis are provided and the key challenges that require further investigation and optimization are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmei Chen
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shanlu Guo
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Longlu Wang
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shujuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Li Y, Gao D, Tang C, Guo Z, Miao N, Sa B, Zhou J, Sun Z. Breaking linear scaling relations by strain engineering on MXene for boosting N 2 electroreduction. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 658:114-126. [PMID: 38100968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of N2 reduction reaction (NRR) electrocatalysts with excellent activity and selectivity is of great significance, but adsorption-energy linear scaling relations between reaction intermediates severely hamper the realization of this aspiration. Here, we propose an elegant strain engineering strategy to break the linear relations in NRR to promote catalytic activity and selectivity. Our results show that the N-N bond lengths of adsorbed N2 with side-on and end-on configurations exhibit opposite variations under strains, which is illuminated by establishing two different N2 activation mechanisms of "P-P" (Pull-Pull) and "E-E" (Electron-Electron). Then, we highlight that strain engineering can break the linear scaling relations in NRR, selectively optimizing the adsorption of key NH2NH2** and NH2* intermediates to realize a lower limiting potential (UL). Particularly, the catalytic activity-selectivity trade-off of NRR on MXene can be circumvented, resulting in a low UL of -0.25 V and high Faraday efficiency (FE), which is further elucidated to originate from the strain-modulated electronic structures. Last but not least, the catalytic sustainability of MXene under strain has been guaranteed. This work not only provides fundamental insights into the strain effect on catalysis but also pioneers a new avenue toward the rational design of superior NRR catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Boron Nitride Micro and Nano Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Dongyue Gao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Boron Nitride Micro and Nano Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Chengchun Tang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Boron Nitride Micro and Nano Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Zhonglu Guo
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Boron Nitride Micro and Nano Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China.
| | - Naihua Miao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Baisheng Sa
- Key Laboratory of Eco-materials Advanced Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhimei Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
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Yin H, Xing X, Zhang W, Li J, Xiong W, Li H. A simple hydrothermal synthesis of an oxygen vacancy-rich MnMoO 4 rod-like material and its highly efficient electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:16670-16679. [PMID: 37916428 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt03018k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (NRR) for artificial ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions is considered a promising alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. However, it still faces multiple challenges such as the difficulty of N2 adsorption and activation and limited Faraday efficiency. In this work, a bimetallic oxide MnMoO4 was prepared by a hydrothermal method and low temperature calcination. The influence of the sintering temperature on the microstructure (crystallinity and oxygen vacancies) of the oxide and its NRR properties were systematically explored. The results showed that MnMoO4 sintered at 500 °C had the highest concentration of OVs and showed excellent NRR performance, with the highest NH3 yield (up to 12.28 μg h-1 mgcat-1), high Faraday efficiency (23.04% at -0.30 V vs. RHE), and good stability at -0.40 V vs. RHE, and the catalytic performance was about two times higher than that of Mn2O3 and MoO3. It is also superior to other bimetallic oxide NRR electrocatalysts reported in some cases. In addition, we also explored the ratio between Mn and Mo metals, and the catalytic effect was the best when Mn : Mo = 1 : 1. Due to the synergistic effect between Mn and Mo metals and the large number of OVs present internally, the catalytic activity for the NRR was largely improved. This study suggests that the bimetallic oxide MnMoO4 may be a promising NRR electrocatalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huhu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
| | - Xiujing Xing
- Chemistry Department, University of California, Davis 95616, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
| | - Jin Li
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
| | - Wei Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
| | - Hao Li
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
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Zhang YZ, Li PH, Ren YN, He Y, Zhang CX, Hu J, Cao XQ, Leung MKH. Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Selective Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2580. [PMID: 37764608 PMCID: PMC10535433 DOI: 10.3390/nano13182580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) plays a significant role in the manufacture of fertilizers, nitrogen-containing chemical production, and hydrogen storage. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (e-NRR) is an attractive prospect for achieving clean and sustainable NH3 production, under mild conditions driven by renewable energy. The sluggish cleavage of N≡N bonds and poor selectivity of e-NRR are the primary challenges for e-NRR, over the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The rational design of e-NRR electrocatalysts is of vital significance and should be based on a thorough understanding of the structure-activity relationship and mechanism. Among the various explored e-NRR catalysts, metal-based electrocatalysts have drawn increasing attention due to their remarkable performances. This review highlighted the recent progress and developments in metal-based electrocatalysts for e-NRR. Different kinds of metal-based electrocatalysts used in NH3 synthesis (including noble-metal-based catalysts, non-noble-metal-based catalysts, and metal compound catalysts) were introduced. The theoretical screening and the experimental practice of rational metal-based electrocatalyst design with different strategies were systematically summarized. Additionally, the structure-function relationship to improve the NH3 yield was evaluated. Finally, current challenges and perspectives of this burgeoning area were provided. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of metal-based e-NRR electrocatalysts with a focus on enhancing their efficiency in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Zhen Zhang
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
- Ability R&D Energy Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peng-Hui Li
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
| | - Yi-Nuo Ren
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
| | - Yun He
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430024, China
| | - Cheng-Xu Zhang
- Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
| | - Jue Hu
- Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
| | - Xiao-Qiang Cao
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
| | - Michael K. H. Leung
- Ability R&D Energy Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Wang S, Qian C, Zhou S. Theory-Guided Construction of the Unsaturated V-N 2 Site with Carbon Defects for Highly Selective Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37290063 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c06739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Renewable energy-driven, electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a promising strategy for ammonia synthesis. However, improving catalyst activity and selectivity under ambient conditions has long been challenging. In this work, we obtained the potential active V-N center through theoretical prediction and successfully constructed the associated V-N2/N3 structure on N-doped carbon materials. Surprisingly, such a catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic NRR performance. The V-N2 catalyst affords a remarkably high faradaic efficiency of 76.53% and an NH3 yield rate of 31.41 μgNH3 h-1 mgCat.-1 at -0.3 V vs RHE. The structural characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations verified that the high performance of the catalyst originates from the tuned d-band upon coordination with nitrogen, in line with the original design intention as derived theoretically. Indeed, the V-N2 center with carbon defects enhances dinitrogen adsorption and charge transfer, thereby lowering the energy barriers to form the *NNH intermediates. Such a strategy as a rational design─controllable synthesis─theoretical verification may prove effective as well for other chemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyue Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Institute of Zhejiang University Quzhou, Zheda Road #99, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chao Qian
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Institute of Zhejiang University Quzhou, Zheda Road #99, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shaodong Zhou
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Institute of Zhejiang University Quzhou, Zheda Road #99, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
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Huang Z, Rafiq M, Woldu AR, Tong QX, Astruc D, Hu L. Recent progress in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia (NRR). Coord Chem Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Yuan S, Meng G, Liu D, Zhao W, Zhu H, Chi Y, Ren H, Guo W. Synergy of Substrate Chemical Environments and Single-Atom Catalysts Promotes Catalytic Performance: Nitrogen Reduction on Chiral and Defected Carbon Nanotubes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:52544-52552. [PMID: 36367754 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The catalytic activities of single-atom catalysts (SACs) are strongly influenced by the local chemical environments of their substrates, by which the electronic structures of the SACs can be effectively tuned. Together with the freedom of available reactive metallic centers, it would be feasible to maximize the catalytic performance by means of a synergetic optimization in the chemical space spanned by the features of both the substrate and the catalytic center. In this work, using first-principles calculations, we systematically assessed the synergetic effect between the substrate geometric/electronic structures and the catalytic centers on the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Carbon nanotubes with different chirality, defects, and chemical functionalization were used to support 15 transition metal atoms. Three SACs, TiN4CNT(3,3), TiN4CNT(5,5), and VN4CNT(3,3), simultaneously possess high NRR selectivities (w.r.t hydrogen evolution) and low overpotentials of 0.35, 0.35, and 0.37 V, respectively. Electronic structure analysis elucidated that larger metal atoms anchored on CNTs with higher curvature and doped by N atoms facilitate the rupture of the N-N bond in *NH2NH2 to lower the overpotentials. The synergy of substrate chemical environments and single atomic catalysis is a promising strategy to optimize the catalytic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saifei Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Guodong Meng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Dongyuan Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Houyu Zhu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Yuhua Chi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Ren
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
| | - Wenyue Guo
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao266580, Shandong, China
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Chen Z, Liu C, Sun L, Wang T. Progress of Experimental and Computational Catalyst Design for Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c02629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Chen
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310027, China
| | - Chunli Liu
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
| | - Licheng Sun
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels and Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310024, China
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Kaiprathu A, Velayudham P, Teller H, Schechter A. Mechanisms of electrochemical nitrogen gas reduction to ammonia under ambient conditions: a focused review. J Solid State Electrochem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10008-022-05228-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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10
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Kapse S, Narasimhan S, Thapa R. Descriptors and graphical construction for in silico design of efficient and selective single atom catalysts for the eNRR. Chem Sci 2022; 13:10003-10010. [PMID: 36128233 PMCID: PMC9430735 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02625b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Outline a screening protocol that uses density functional theory calculations to simultaneously optimize with respect to multiple criteria, thereby successfully identifying catalysts that are highly selective and also result in low overpotentials for ammonia production through eNRR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samadhan Kapse
- Department of Physics, SRM University – AP, Amaravati 522 240, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Shobhana Narasimhan
- Theoretical Sciences Unit and School of Advanced Materials, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore 560 064, Karnataka, India
| | - Ranjit Thapa
- Department of Physics, SRM University – AP, Amaravati 522 240, Andhra Pradesh, India
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