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Sun Y, Fan W, Li Y, Sui NLD, Zhu Z, Zhou Y, Lee JM. Tuning Coordination Structures of Zn Sites Through Symmetry-Breaking Accelerates Electrocatalysis. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306687. [PMID: 37649133 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Manipulating the coordination environment of individual active sites in a precise manner remains an important challenge in electrocatalytic reactions. Herein, inspired by theoretical predictions, a facile procedure to synthesize a series of symmetry-breaking zinc metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF) catalysts with well-defined structures is presented. Benefiting from the optimized coordination microenvironment regulated by symmetry-breaking, Zn-N2 S2 -MOF exhibits the best performance of nitrogen (N2 ) reduction reaction (NRR) with NH3 yield rate of 25.07 ± 1.57 µg h-1 cm-2 and Faradaic efficiency of 44.57 ± 2.79% compared with reported Zn-based NRR catalysts. X-ray absorption near-edge structure shows that the symmetry-breaking distorts the coordination environment and modulates the delocalized electrons around the Zn sites, which favors the formation of unpaired low-valence Znδ+ , thereby facilitating the adsorption/activation of N2 . Theoretical calculations elucidate that low-valence Znδ+ in Zn-N2 S2 -MOF can effectively lower the energy barrier of potential determining step, promoting the kinetics and boosting the NRR activity. This work highlights the relationship between the precise coordination environment of metal sites and the catalytic activity, which offers insightful guidance for rationally designing high-efficiency electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuntong Sun
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
| | - Wenjun Fan
- Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, iChEM, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yinghao Li
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
| | - Nicole L D Sui
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
- Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
| | - Zhouhao Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316004, China
| | - Yingtang Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316004, China
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
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Zhang YZ, Li PH, Ren YN, He Y, Zhang CX, Hu J, Cao XQ, Leung MKH. Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Selective Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2580. [PMID: 37764608 PMCID: PMC10535433 DOI: 10.3390/nano13182580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) plays a significant role in the manufacture of fertilizers, nitrogen-containing chemical production, and hydrogen storage. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (e-NRR) is an attractive prospect for achieving clean and sustainable NH3 production, under mild conditions driven by renewable energy. The sluggish cleavage of N≡N bonds and poor selectivity of e-NRR are the primary challenges for e-NRR, over the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The rational design of e-NRR electrocatalysts is of vital significance and should be based on a thorough understanding of the structure-activity relationship and mechanism. Among the various explored e-NRR catalysts, metal-based electrocatalysts have drawn increasing attention due to their remarkable performances. This review highlighted the recent progress and developments in metal-based electrocatalysts for e-NRR. Different kinds of metal-based electrocatalysts used in NH3 synthesis (including noble-metal-based catalysts, non-noble-metal-based catalysts, and metal compound catalysts) were introduced. The theoretical screening and the experimental practice of rational metal-based electrocatalyst design with different strategies were systematically summarized. Additionally, the structure-function relationship to improve the NH3 yield was evaluated. Finally, current challenges and perspectives of this burgeoning area were provided. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of metal-based e-NRR electrocatalysts with a focus on enhancing their efficiency in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Zhen Zhang
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
- Ability R&D Energy Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peng-Hui Li
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
| | - Yi-Nuo Ren
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
| | - Yun He
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430024, China
| | - Cheng-Xu Zhang
- Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
| | - Jue Hu
- Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
| | - Xiao-Qiang Cao
- College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; (Y.-Z.Z.)
| | - Michael K. H. Leung
- Ability R&D Energy Research Centre, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Ma R, Weng X, Lin L, Zhao J, Wei F, Lin S. Role of Peripheral Coordination Boron in Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction over N-Doped Graphene-Supported Single-Atom Catalysts. Molecules 2023; 28:4597. [PMID: 37375152 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, we investigate the effect of peripheral B doping on the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) performance of N-doped graphene-supported single-metal atoms using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our results showed that the peripheral coordination of B atoms could improve the stability of the single-atom catalysts (SACs) and weaken the binding of nitrogen to the central atom. Interestingly, it was found that there was a linear correlation between the change in the magnetic moment (μ) of single-metal atoms and the change in the limiting potential (UL) of the optimum NRR pathway before and after B doping. It was also found that the introduction of the B atom suppressed the hydrogen evolution reaction, thereby enhancing the NRR selectivity of the SACs. This work provides useful insights into the design of efficient SACs for electrocatalytic NRR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xintong Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Linghui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Fenfei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Sen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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