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Gogoi A, Dixit M, Pal S. Mechanistic Insight of High-Valent First-Row Transition Metal Complexes for Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane. J Phys Chem A 2024. [PMID: 39213523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c04069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Designing an efficient and cost-effective catalyst for ammonia borane (AB) dehydrogenation remains a persistent challenge in advancing a hydrogen-based economy. Transition metal complexes, known for their C-H bond activation capabilities, have emerged as promising candidates for AB dehydrogenation. In this study, we investigated two recently synthesized C-H activation catalysts, 1 (CoIV-dinitrate complex) and 2 (NiIV-nitrate complex), and demonstrated their efficacy for AB dehydrogenation. Using density functional theory calculations and a detailed analysis, we elucidated the AB dehydrogenation mechanism of these complexes. Our results revealed that both complexes 1 and 2 can efficiently dehydrogenate AB at room temperature, although the abstraction of molecular H2 from these complexes requires slightly elevated temperatures. We utilized H2 binding free energy calculations to identify potentially active sites and observed that complex 2 can release two equivalents of H2 at a temperature slightly higher than room temperature. Furthermore, we investigated AB dehydrogenation kinetics and thermodynamics in iron (Fe)-substituted systems, complexes 3 and 4. Our results showed that the strategic alteration of the central metal atom, replacing Ni in complex 2 with Fe in complex 4, resulted in enhanced kinetics and thermodynamics for AB dehydrogenation in the initial cycle. These results underscore the potential of high-valent first-row transition metal complexes for facilitating AB dehydrogenation at room temperature. Additionally, our study highlights the beneficial impact of incorporating iron into such mononuclear systems, enhancing their catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Gogoi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741 246, West Bengal, India
| | - Mudit Dixit
- Advanced Materials Laboratory, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai 600 020, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sourav Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Ashoka University, Sonipat 131029, Haryana, India
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2
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Tanabe Y, Nishibayashi Y. Catalytic Nitrogen Fixation Using Well-Defined Molecular Catalysts under Ambient or Mild Reaction Conditions. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202406404. [PMID: 38781115 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202406404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is industrially produced from dinitrogen (N2) and dihydrogen (H2) by the Haber-Bosch process, although H2 is prepared from fossil fuels, and the reaction requires harsh conditions. On the other hand, microorganisms have fixed nitrogen under ambient reaction conditions. Recently, well-defined molecular transition metal complexes have been found to work as catalyst to convert N2 into NH3 by reactions with chemical reductants and proton sources under ambient reaction conditions. Among them, involvement of both N2-splitting pathway and proton-coupled electron transfer is found to be very effective for high catalytic activity. Furthermore, direct electrocatalytic and photocatalytic conversions of N2 into NH3 have been recently achieved. In addition to catalytic formation of NH3, selective catalytic conversion of N2 into hydrazine (NH2NH2) and catalytic silylation of N2 into silylamines have been reported. Catalytic C-N bond formation has been more recently established to afford cyanate anion (NCO-) under ambient reaction conditions. Further development of direct conversion of N2 into nitrogen-containing compounds as well as green ammonia synthesis leading to the use of ammonia as an energy carrier is expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki Tanabe
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nishibayashi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
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3
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Kfoury J, Oláh J. Role of Lewis acid/base anchor atoms in catalyst regeneration: a comprehensive study on biomimetic EP 3Fe nitrogenases. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:12520-12529. [PMID: 38605679 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00483c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
In the quest for sustainable ammonia synthesis routes, biomimetic complexes have been intensively studied. Here we focus on the Peter's group Fe-nitrogenase catalyst with EPPP scorpionate ligands, and explore the effect of anchor atom selection (B, Al, Ga, N and P) and the impact of chloro substitution on the phenyl rings on nitrogen fixation. The reaction profiles of complexes with Lewis basic anchor atoms exhibited energy-demanding reduction steps, with more exergonic protonation steps compared to the smoother reaction profiles observed for catalysts with Lewis acid anchor atoms, also implying that catalyst regeneration is especially challenging for catalysts with Lewis basic anchor atoms. The binding affinities of N2 and H2 to the complexes suggest that the autocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which ultimately leads to consumption of reactants and catalyst deactivation, is likely to become more prevalent for heavier anchor atoms and be more significant for Lewis basic anchor atom complexes. Out of the studied complexes, boron showed the smoothest reaction profile and the smallest affinity for H2, which supports its superiour role as an anchor atom in accordance with experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kfoury
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Julianna Oláh
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
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4
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Junge J, Engesser TA, Tuczek F. N 2 Reduction versus H 2 Evolution in a Molybdenum- or Tungsten-Based Small-Molecule Model System of Nitrogenase. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202202629. [PMID: 36458957 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Molybdenum dinitrogen complexes have played a major role as catalytic model systems of nitrogenase. In comparison, analogous tungsten complexes have in most cases found to be catalytically inactive. Herein, a tungsten complex was shown to be supported by a pentadentate tetrapodal (pentaPod) phosphine ligand, under conditions of N2 fixation, primarily catalyzes the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), in contrast to its Mo analogue, which catalytically mediates the nitrogen-reduction reaction (N2 RR). DFT calculations were employed to evaluate possible mechanisms and identify the most likely pathways of N2 RR and HER activities exhibited by Mo- and W-pentaPod complexes. Two mechanisms for N2 RR by PCET are considered, starting from neutral (M(0) cycle) and cationic (M(I) cycle) dinitrogen complexes (M=Mo, W). The latter was found to be energetically more favorable. For HER three scenarios are treated; that is, through bimolecular reactions of early M-Nx Hy intermediates, pure hydride intermediates or mixed M(H)(Nx Hy ) species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Junge
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Max-Eyth-Strasse 2, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tobias A Engesser
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Max-Eyth-Strasse 2, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Felix Tuczek
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Max-Eyth-Strasse 2, 24118, Kiel, Germany
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Campanella AJ, Üngör Ö, Zadrozny JM. Quantum Mimicry With Inorganic Chemistry. COMMENT INORG CHEM 2023; 44:11-53. [PMID: 38515928 PMCID: PMC10954259 DOI: 10.1080/02603594.2023.2173588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Quantum objects, such as atoms, spins, and subatomic particles, have important properties due to their unique physical properties that could be useful for many different applications, ranging from quantum information processing to magnetic resonance imaging. Molecular species also exhibit quantum properties, and these properties are fundamentally tunable by synthetic design, unlike ions isolated in a quadrupolar trap, for example. In this comment, we collect multiple, distinct, scientific efforts into an emergent field that is devoted to designing molecules that mimic the quantum properties of objects like trapped atoms or defects in solids. Mimicry is endemic in inorganic chemistry and featured heavily in the research interests of groups across the world. We describe a new field of using inorganic chemistry to design molecules that mimic the quantum properties (e.g. the lifetime of spin superpositions, or the resonant frequencies thereof) of other quantum objects, "quantum mimicry." In this comment, we describe the philosophical design strategies and recent exciting results from application of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Campanella
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Address: 200 W. Lake St, Campus Delivery 1872, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Ökten Üngör
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Address: 200 W. Lake St, Campus Delivery 1872, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Joseph M. Zadrozny
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Address: 200 W. Lake St, Campus Delivery 1872, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Kfoury J, Benedek Z, Szilvási T, Oláh J. H 2 and N 2 Binding Affinities Are Coupled in Synthetic Fe Nitrogenases Limiting N 2 Fixation. Organometallics 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.1c00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kfoury
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rakpart 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Benedek
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rakpart 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
- Wigner Research Centre for Physics, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Tibor Szilvási
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Julianna Oláh
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rakpart 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
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Ali H, Masar M, Guler AC, Urbanek M, Machovsky M, Kuritka I. Heterojunction-based photocatalytic nitrogen fixation: principles and current progress. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:6358-6372. [PMID: 36133492 PMCID: PMC9417957 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00565k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen fixation is considered one of the grand challenges of the 21st century for achieving the ultimate vision of a green and sustainable future. It is crucial to develop and design sustainable nitrogen fixation techniques with minimal environmental impact as an alternative to the energy-cost intensive Haber-Bosch process. Heterojunction-based photocatalysis has recently emerged as a viable solution for the various environmental and energy issues, including nitrogen fixation. The primary advantages of heterojunction photocatalysts are spatially separated photogenerated charge carriers while retaining high oxidation and reduction potentials of the individual components, enabling visible light-harvesting. This review summarises the fundamental principles of photocatalytic heterostructures, the reaction mechanism of the nitrogen reduction reaction, ammonia detection methods, and the current progress of heterostructured photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation. Finally, future challenges and prospects are briefly discussed for the emerging field of heterostructured photocatalytic nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Ali
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Milan Masar
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Ali Can Guler
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Michal Urbanek
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Michal Machovsky
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Kuritka
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Tr. T. Bati 5678 76001 Zlin Czech Republic
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Choi C, Gu GH, Noh J, Park HS, Jung Y. Understanding potential-dependent competition between electrocatalytic dinitrogen and proton reduction reactions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4353. [PMID: 34272379 PMCID: PMC8285508 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24539-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A key challenge to realizing practical electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is the decrease in the NRR activity before reaching the mass-transfer limit as overpotential increases. While the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been suggested to be responsible for this phenomenon, the mechanistic origin has not been clearly explained. Herein, we investigate the potential-dependent competition between NRR and HER using the constant electrode potential model and microkinetic modeling. We find that the H coverage and N2 coverage crossover leads to the premature decrease of NRR activity. The coverage crossover originates from the larger charge transfer in H+ adsorption than N2 adsorption. The larger charge transfer in H+ adsorption, which potentially leads to the coverage crossover, is a general phenomenon seen in various heterogeneous catalysts, posing a fundamental challenge to realize practical electrochemical NRR. We suggest several strategies to overcome the challenge based on the present understandings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhyeok Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun Ho Gu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhwan Noh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun S Park
- Center for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yousung Jung
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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Benedek Z, Papp M, Oláh J, Szilvási T. Demonstrating the Direct Relationship between Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and Catalyst Deactivation in Synthetic Fe Nitrogenases. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c02315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Benedek
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szent Gellért tér 4, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marcell Papp
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szent Gellért tér 4, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Julianna Oláh
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Szent Gellért tér 4, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Szilvási
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
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Chalkley MJ, Peters JC. Relating N-H Bond Strengths to the Overpotential for Catalytic Nitrogen Fixation. Eur J Inorg Chem 2020; 2020:1353-1357. [PMID: 33071628 DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202000232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N2) fixation to produce bio-available ammonia (NH3) is essential to all life but is a challenging transformation to catalyse owing to the chemical inertness of N2. Transition metals can, however, bind N2 and activate it for functionalization. Significant opportunities remain in developing robust and efficient transition metal catalysts for the N2 reduction reaction (N2RR). One opportunity to target in catalyst design concerns the stabilization of transition metal diazenido species (M-NNH) that result from the first N2 functionalization step. Well-characterized M-NNH species remain very rare, likely a consequence of their low N-H bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs). In this essay, we discuss the relationship between the BDFEN-H of a given M-NNH species to the observed overpotential and selectivity for N2RR catalysis with that catalyst system. We note that developing strategies to either increase the N-H BDFEs of M-NNH species, or to avoid M-NNH intermediates altogether, are potential routes to improved N2RR efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Chalkley
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Jonas C Peters
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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