Issue 81, 2018

Ag nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic N2 fixation to NH3 under ambient conditions

Abstract

The industrial-scale NH3 production still heavily depends on the Haber–Bosch process which demands not only high energy consumption but emits a large amount of CO2. Electrochemical fixation of N2 to NH3 under ambient conditions is regarded as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach, but stable and efficient electrocatalysts are demanded for the N2 reduction reaction (NRR). In this work, we report our recent finding that an Ag nanosheet acts as a high-performance NRR electrocatalyst at room temperature and pressure. Electrochemical tests in 0.1 M HCl reveal that such a catalyst achieves a high Faradaic efficiency of 4.8% and a NH3 yield rate of 4.62 × 10−11 mol s−1 cm−2 at −0.60 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), rivaling the performances of most of the reported aqueous-based NRR electrocatalysts. Additionally, the Ag nanosheet also shows excellent selectivity, strong long-term electrochemical stability and durability.

Graphical abstract: Ag nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic N2 fixation to NH3 under ambient conditions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
06 Aug 2018
Accepted
19 Sep 2018
First published
19 Sep 2018

Chem. Commun., 2018,54, 11427-11430

Ag nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic N2 fixation to NH3 under ambient conditions

H. Huang, L. Xia, X. Shi, A. M. Asiri and X. Sun, Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 11427 DOI: 10.1039/C8CC06365F

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