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Feng R, Yin H, Jin F, Niu W, Zhang W, Liu J, Du A, Yang W, Liu Z. Highly Selective N2 Electroreduction to NH3 Using a Boron-Vacancy-Rich Diatomic NbB Catalyst. Small 2023:e2301627. [PMID: 36974604 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202301627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The ambient electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is a future approach for the artificial NH3 synthesis to overcome the problems of high-energy consumption and environmental pollution by Haber-Bosch technology. However, the challenge of N2 activation on a catalyst surface and the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction make the current NRR unsatisfied. Herein, this work demonstrates that NbB2 nanoflakes (NFs) exhibit excellent selectivity and durability in NRR, which produces NH3 with a production rate of 30.5 µg h-1 mgcat -1 and a super-high Faraday efficiency (FE) of 40.2%. The high-selective NH3 production is attributed to the large amount of active B vacancies on the surface of NbB2 NFs. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the multiple atomic adsorption of N2 on both unsaturated Nb and B atoms results in a significantly stretched N2 molecule. The weakened NN triple bonds are easier to be broken for a biased NH3 production. The diatomic catalysis is a future approach for NRR as it shows a special N2 adsorption mode that can be well engineered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Feng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for Graphene Applied Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Hanqing Yin
- School of Chemistry and Physics and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, 4001, Australia
| | - Fuhao Jin
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for Graphene Applied Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Wei Niu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for Graphene Applied Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Wanting Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for Graphene Applied Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Jingquan Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for Graphene Applied Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Aijun Du
- School of Chemistry and Physics and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, 4001, Australia
| | - Wenrong Yang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Zhen Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for Graphene Applied Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
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Wang J, Liu C, Miao K, Zhang K, Zheng W, Chen C. Macroscale Robust Superlubricity on Metallic NbB 2. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022; 9:e2103815. [PMID: 35266647 PMCID: PMC9069360 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Robust superlubricity (RSL), defined by concurrent superlow friction and wear, holds great promise for reducing material and energy loss in vast industrial and technological operations. Despite recent advances, challenges remain in finding materials that exhibit RSL on macrolength and time scales and possess vigorous electrical conduction ability. Here, the discovery of RSL is reported on hydrated NbB2 films that exhibit vanishingly small coefficient of friction (0.001-0.006) and superlow wear rate (≈10-17 m3 N-1 m-1 ) on large length scales reaching millimeter range and prolonged time scales lasting through extensive loading durations. Moreover, the measured low resistivity (≈10-6 Ω m) of the synthesized NbB2 film indicates ample capability for electrical conduction, extending macroscale RSL to hitherto largely untapped metallic materials. Pertinent microscopic mechanisms are elucidated by deciphering the intricate load-driven chemical reactions that generate and sustain the observed superlubricating state and assessing the strong stress responses under diverse strains that produce the superior durability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard MaterialsDepartment of Materials Science and Key Laboratory of Automobile MaterialsMOEJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringJilin Jianzhu UniversityChangchun130118China
| | - Chang Liu
- International Center for Computational Methods and SoftwareCollege of PhysicsJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
| | - Kaifei Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard MaterialsDepartment of Materials Science and Key Laboratory of Automobile MaterialsMOEJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
| | - Kan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard MaterialsDepartment of Materials Science and Key Laboratory of Automobile MaterialsMOEJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
| | - Weitao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard MaterialsDepartment of Materials Science and Key Laboratory of Automobile MaterialsMOEJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
| | - Changfeng Chen
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of Nevada, Las VegasLas VegasNV89154USA
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