Bimetallic Ag3Cu porous networks for ambient electrolysis of nitrogen to ammonia

Abstract

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is considered as a facile and sustainable strategy for ammonia production. Design of high-performance electrocatalysts is the crucial issue for the NRR. Herein, we present a one-pot reduction method to directly synthesize bimetallic Ag₃Cu porous networks (Ag₃Cu BPNs). Owing to their porous networks and bimetallic composition, the Ag₃Cu BPNs exhibit outstanding NRR performance with a high NH₃ yield of 24.59 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat.⁻¹ and faradaic efficiency of 13.28% at −0.5 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode. This study proposes a facile and scalable route for the development of metallic porous networks with an interconnected structure and desired components for electrochemical ammonia production.