1
|
Guo P, Luan D, Li H, Li L, Yang S, Xiao J. Computational Insights on Structural Sensitivity of Cobalt in NO Electroreduction to Ammonia and Hydroxylamine. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:13974-13982. [PMID: 38723620 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
It has been reported that it was selective to produce ammonia on metallic cobalt in the electrocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (eNORR), where hexagonal close-packed (hcp) cobalt outperforms face-centered cubic (fcc) cobalt. However, hydroxylamine is more selectively produced on a cobalt single-atom catalyst (Co-SAC). Herein, we uncover the structural sensitivity over hcp-Co, fcc-Co, and Co-SAC in eNORR by employing a recently developed constant potential simulation method and microkinetic modeling. It was found that the superior activity for ammonia production on hcp-Co can be attributed to its facile electron and proton transfer and a stronger lateral suppression effect from NO* over fcc-Co. The exceptional hydroxylamine selectivity on Co-SAC is due to the modified electronic structure, namely, a positively charged active center. It was found that it is more favorable to produce NOH* over hcp-Co and fcc-Co, while HNO* is more preferable on Co-SAC, which are firmly correlated with the vertical and strong NO adsorption on the former and the moderate adsorption on the latter. In other words, a key factor for selectivity control is the first step of NO* protonation. Therefore, the local structure and electronic structure of the catalysts can be critical in regulating the activity and selectivity in eNORR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P.R. China
| | - Dong Luan
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P.R. China
| | - Huan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Shaoxue Yang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yang R, Wang Y, Li H, Zhou J, Gao Z, Liu C, Zhang B. Descriptor-Based Volcano Relations Predict Single Atoms for Hydroxylamine Electrosynthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317167. [PMID: 38323917 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317167] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) is an important feedstock in fuels, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Nanostructured electrocatalysts drive green electrosynthesis of hydroxylamine from nitrogen oxide species in water. However, current electrocatalysts still suffer from low selectivity and manpower-consuming trial-and-error modes, leaving unclear selectivity/activity origins and a lack of catalyst design principles. Herein, we theoretically analyze key determinants of selectivity/activity and propose the adsorption energy of NHO (Gad(*NHO)) as a performance descriptor. A weak *NH2OH binding affinity and a favorable reaction pathway (*NHO pathway) jointly enable single-atom catalysts (SACs) with superior NH2OH selectivity. Then, an activity volcano plot of Gad(*NHO) is established to predict a series of SACs and discover Mn SACs as optimal electrocatalysts that exhibit pH-dependent activity. These theoretical prediction results are also confirmed by experimental results, rationalizing our Gad(*NHO) descriptor. Furthermore, Mn-Co geminal-atom catalysts (GACs) are predicted to optimize Gad(*NHO) and are experimentally proved to enhance NH2OH formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Hongjiao Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zeyuan Gao
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Cuibo Liu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin, 300192, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu Q, Dai C, Meng F, Jiao Y, Xu ZJ. Potential and electric double-layer effect in electrocatalytic urea synthesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1095. [PMID: 38321031 PMCID: PMC10847171 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45522-6] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrochemical synthesis is a promising way for sustainable urea production, yet the exact mechanism has not been fully revealed. Herein, we explore the mechanism of electrochemical coupling of nitrite and carbon dioxide on Cu surfaces towards urea synthesis on the basis of a constant-potential method combined with an implicit solvent model. The working electrode potential, which has normally overlooked, is found influential on both the reaction mechanism and activity. The further computational study on the reaction pathways reveals that *CO-NH and *NH-CO-NH as the key intermediates. In addition, through the analysis of turnover frequencies under various potentials, pressures, and temperatures within a microkinetic model, we demonstrate that the activity increases with temperature, and the Cu(100) shows the highest efficiency towards urea synthesis among all three Cu surfaces. The electric double-layer capacitance also plays a key role in urea synthesis. Based on these findings, we propose two essential strategies to promote the efficiency of urea synthesis on Cu electrodes: increasing Cu(100) surface ratio and elevating the reaction temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Chencheng Dai
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore, 1 CREATE way, Singapore, 138602, Singapore
| | - Fanxu Meng
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Yan Jiao
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Zhichuan J Xu
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
- The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore, 1 CREATE way, Singapore, 138602, Singapore.
- Energy Research Institute @ Nanyang Technological University, ERI@N, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
- Center for Advanced Catalysis Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li L, Xiao J. Activity Trend and Selectivity of Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis in Reverse Artificial Nitrogen Cycle. CHEMSUSCHEM 2023; 16:e202300593. [PMID: 37293693 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202300593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia is important for modern agriculture and food production as it is a major source of fertilizer. Electrochemical ammonia synthesis (EAS) with sustainable energy generated electricity and decentralized reactors has been considered as environmentally friendly process. Several nitrogen sources have been considered and intensively studied in experiments and computations. Recently, it has been proposed and demonstrated that nitrogen oxides (NOx ) electroreduction for selective ammonia production is feasible. Fundamental insights on experimental observation are necessary for more rational design of catalysts and reactors in the future. In this concept, we review the theoretical and computational insights of electrochemical nitrogen oxides reduction, particularly, the activity trend over diverse transition metal catalysts and products selectivity at varying potentials. Finally, we address the opportunities and challenges in the reverse artificial nitrogen cycle, as well as fundamental issues in electrochemical reaction modelling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China) E
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Jianping Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China) E
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu H, Zhang D, Holmes SM, D'Agostino C, Li H. Origin of the superior oxygen reduction activity of zirconium nitride in alkaline media. Chem Sci 2023; 14:9000-9009. [PMID: 37655027 PMCID: PMC10466308 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc01827j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC), which can operate in alkaline media, paves a promising avenue for the broad application of earth-abundant element based catalysts. Recent pioneering studies found that zirconium nitride (ZrN) with low upfront capital cost can exhibit high activity, even surpassing that of Pt in alkaline oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the origin of its superior ORR activity was not well understood. Herein, we propose a new theoretical framework to uncover the ORR mechanism of ZrN by integrating surface state analysis, electric field effect simulations, and pH-dependent microkinetic modelling. The ZrN surface was found to be covered by ∼1 monolayer (ML) HO* under ORR operating conditions, which can accommodate the adsorbates in a bridge-site configuration for the ORR. Electric field effect simulations demonstrate that O* adsorption on a 1 ML HO* covered surface only induces a consistently small dipole moment change, resulting in a moderate bonding strength that can account for the superior activity. Based on the identified surface state of ZrN and electric field simulations, pH-dependent microkinetic modelling found that ZrN reaches the Sabatier optimum of the kinetic ORR volcano model in alkaline media, with the simulated polarization curves being in excellent agreement with the experimental data of ZrN and Pt/C. Finally, we show that this theoretical framework can lead to a good explanation for the alkaline oxygen electrocatalysis of other transition metal nitrites such as Fe3N, TiN, and HfN. In summary, this study proposes a new framework to rationalize and design transition metal nitrides for alkaline ORR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Liu
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University Sendai 980-8577 Japan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester Oxford Road M13 9PL UK
| | - Di Zhang
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Stuart M Holmes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester Oxford Road M13 9PL UK
| | - Carmine D'Agostino
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester Oxford Road M13 9PL UK
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica, Ambientale e dei Materiali (DICAM), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna Via Terracini, 28 40131 Bologna Italy
| | - Hao Li
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li Z, Zhou Q, Liang J, Zhang L, Fan X, Zhao D, Cai Z, Li J, Zheng D, He X, Luo Y, Wang Y, Ying B, Yan H, Sun S, Zhang J, Alshehri AA, Gong F, Zheng Y, Sun X. Defective TiO 2- x for High-Performance Electrocatalytic NO Reduction toward Ambient NH 3 Production. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2300291. [PMID: 36919558 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis of green ammonia (NH3 ) via electrolysis of nitric oxide (NO) is extraordinarily sustainable, but multielectron/proton-involved hydrogenation steps as well as low concentrations of NO can lead to poor activities and selectivities of electrocatalysts. Herein, it is reported that oxygen-defective TiO2 nanoarray supported on Ti plate (TiO2- x /TP) behaves as an efficient catalyst for NO reduction to NH3 . In 0.2 m phosphate-buffered electrolyte, such TiO2- x /TP shows competitive electrocatalytic NH3 synthesis activity with a maximum NH3 yield of 1233.2 µg h-1 cm-2 and Faradaic efficiency of 92.5%. Density functional theory calculations further thermodynamically faster NO deoxygenation and protonation processes on TiO2- x (101) compared to perfect TiO2 (101). And the low energy barrier of 0.7 eV on TiO2- x (101) for the potential-determining step further highlights the greatly improved intrinsic activity. In addition, a Zn-NO battery is fabricated with TiO2- x /TP and Zn plate to obtain an NH3 yield of 241.7 µg h-1 cm-2 while providing a peak power density of 0.84 mW cm-2 .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zixiao Li
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211189, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Longcheng Zhang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Xiaoya Fan
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Donglin Zhao
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Zhengwei Cai
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Jun Li
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Dongdong Zheng
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Xun He
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Yongsong Luo
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Binwu Ying
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Hong Yan
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Shengjun Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Abdulmohsen Ali Alshehri
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Feng Gong
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211189, China
| | - Yinyuan Zheng
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital affiliated to Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313000, China
| | - Xuping Sun
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| |
Collapse
|