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Title: Single-atom catalysts templated by metal–organic frameworks for electrochemical nitrogen reduction

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA10206J· OSTI ID:1583128
 [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China)
  2. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China); North China Electric Power Univ., Baoding (China)
  3. SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
  4. Univ. of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China); Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Fuzhou (China)

The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers much prospect for substituting the energy-consuming Haber–Bosch process. Nevertheless, its sluggish reaction kinetics and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction always result in limited ammonia yield and low faradaic efficiency (FE). Here, an Fe-decorated porphyrinic metal–organic framework (MOF) is employed as a precursor to construct single-atom Fe implanted nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts (Fe1-N-C) through a mixed ligand strategy. Benefiting from the highly dispersed single-atom Fe sites, hierarchically porous structure and good conductivity, Fe1-N-C shows a FE of 4.51% and an ammonia yield rate of 1.56 × 10-11 mol cm-2 s-1 at -0.05 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, superior to those of Co1-N-C and Ni1-N-C. Theoretical calculations show that Fe1-N-C shows the lowest energy barrier of the rate-determining step during the NRR process, consistent with its highest activity obtained in experiments. This work reveals the unique potential of single-atom catalysts for the electrochemical NRR and provides in-depth insights into the catalytic mechanism of the NRR.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; 21725101, 21871244, 21521001; 2019TQ0298; WK2060030029
OSTI ID:
1583128
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Vol. 7, Issue 46; ISSN 2050-7488
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 103 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (8)


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