Identifying the Active Site on Graphene Oxide Nanosheets for Ambient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction

Electronegative Phosphorus-Integrated Co2+ Active Sites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction

In the quest for proficient electrocatalysts for ammonia's electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction, cobalt oxides, endowed with a rich d-electron reservoir, have emerged as frontrunners. Despite the previously evidenced prowess of CoO in this realm, its ammonia yield witnesses a pronounced decline as the reaction unfolds, a phenomenon linked to the electron attrition from its Co2+ active sites during electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). To counteract this vulnerability, we harnessed electron-laden phosphorus (P) elements as dopants, aiming to recalibrate the electronic equilibrium of the pivotal Co active site, thereby bolstering both its catalytic performance and stability. Our empirical endeavors showcased the doped P-CoO's superior credentials: it delivered an impressive ammonia yield of 49.6 and, notably, a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 9.6% at -0.2 V versus RHE, markedly eclipsing its undoped counterpart. Probing deeper, a suite of ex-situ techniques, complemented by rigorous theoretical evaluations, was deployed. This dual-pronged analysis unequivocally revealed CoO's propensity for an electron-driven valence metamorphosis to Co3+ post-ENRR. In stark contrast, P-CoO, fortified by P doping, exhibits a discernibly augmented ammonia yield. Crucially, P's intrinsic ability to staunch electron leakage from the active locus during ENRR ensures the preservation of the valence state, culminating in enhanced catalytic dynamism and fortitude. This investigation not only illuminates the intricacies of active site electronic modulation in ENRR but also charts a navigational beacon for further enhancements in this domain.

Active Sites and Their Individual Turnover Frequencies for Ethylene Hydrogenation on Reduced Graphene Aerogel

Graphene aerogel (GA) was reduced at various temperatures to prepare a series of reduced graphene aerogels (rGAs) with different surface characteristics. Detailed characterization demonstrated that an increase in the thermal reduction temperature leads to an increase in surface area accompanied by an increase in surface density of defect sites formed by the removal of the oxygen-containing functional groups. rGA samples were then tested for ethylene hydrogenation under identical conditions. A comparison of catalytic performances of each catalyst demonstrated that the rGA sample prepared by reduction in Ar at 900 °C (rGA-900) provides the highest performance compared with others prepared at lower temperatures. Next, we analyzed the per-gram activity of each catalyst as a sum of individual contributions from different defect sites quantified by Raman spectroscopy and CHNS-O analysis to determine the individual turnover frequencies (TOFs) of each active site. This analysis identified polyene-like structures and interstitial defects associated with amorphous sp2 bonded carbon atoms as the dominant active sites responsible for hydrogenation. A comparison of their TOFs further indicated that the polyene-like structures provide approximately ten times higher TOF compared to those associated with the amorphous carbon defects. These results, identifying the dominant active centers and quantifying their corresponding TOFs, provide opportunities toward the rational design of GA-based carbocatalysts.

High efficient Hg (II) and TNP removal by NH2 grafted magnetic graphene oxide synthesized from Typha latifolia

The present study for the first time manifests the outstanding potential of amine grafted magnetic graphene oxide (m-GO-NH2) synthesized from Typha latifolia stems for mercury (Hg (II)) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) removal. The adsorption performance of m-GO-NH2 was apprized by considering the impact of the contact time (0-120 min), pH (2-9), adsorbent dose (5-40 mg), and adsorbate concentration (10-50 mg/L). The maximum Hg (II) and TNP removals (∼ 100%) were obtained using 30 mg adsorbent dose in 90 and 75 min, respectively. The best performance of m-GO-NH2 was observed at pH of 7, 20 mg/L Hg (II), and pH of 2, 30 mg/L TNP. According to the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, the surface area of GO was 34.81 m2/g and the simultaneous micro and mesoporosity was observed. Regarding the thermodynamic studies, the adsorption procedure was spontaneous and endothermic for Hg (II) followed Redlich-Peterson (R-P) and Freundlich isotherm equations while it was exothermic for TNP, well fitted with Langmuir and R-P isotherms. Kinetic data also indicated a good correlation with pseudo-second-order model. The highest adsorption capacity was estimated as 107.33 and 105.2 mg/g for Hg (II) and TNP, respectively. Accordingly, the proposed m-GO-NH2 can be a promising adsorbent for the elimination of metal and organic contaminants.