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Ahmed M, Wang C, Zhao Y, Sathish CI, Lei Z, Qiao L, Sun C, Wang S, Kennedy JV, Vinu A, Yi J. Bridging Together Theoretical and Experimental Perspectives in Single-Atom Alloys for Electrochemical Ammonia Production. Small 2024:e2308084. [PMID: 38243883 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308084] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Ammonia is an essential commodity in the food and chemical industry. Despite the energy-intensive nature, the Haber-Bosch process is the only player in ammonia production at large scales. Developing other strategies is highly desirable, as sustainable and decentralized ammonia production is crucial. Electrochemical ammonia production by directly reducing nitrogen and nitrogen-based moieties powered by renewable energy sources holds great potential. However, low ammonia production and selectivity rates hamper its utilization as a large-scale ammonia production process. Creating effective and selective catalysts for the electrochemical generation of ammonia is critical for long-term nitrogen fixation. Single-atom alloys (SAAs) have become a new class of materials with distinctive features that may be able to solve some of the problems with conventional heterogeneous catalysts. The design and optimization of SAAs for electrochemical ammonia generation have recently been significantly advanced. This comprehensive review discusses these advancements from theoretical and experimental research perspectives, offering a fundamental understanding of the development of SAAs for ammonia production.
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Affiliation(s)
- MuhammadIbrar Ahmed
- Global Innovative Center of Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Cheng Wang
- CSIRO Energy Centre, 10 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Mayfield West, NSW, 2304, Australia
| | - Yong Zhao
- CSIRO Energy Centre, 10 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Mayfield West, NSW, 2304, Australia
| | - C I Sathish
- Global Innovative Center of Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Zhihao Lei
- Global Innovative Center of Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Liang Qiao
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Chenghua Sun
- Centre for Translational Atomaterials, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia
| | - Shaobin Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - John V Kennedy
- National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, P.O. Box 31312, Lower Hutt, 5010, New Zealand
| | - Ajayan Vinu
- Global Innovative Center of Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Jiabao Yi
- Global Innovative Center of Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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Sun Y, Shi W, Huang A, Sun M, Tu R, Li Z, Wang Z. Structural Design of π-d Conjugated TM x B 3 N 3 S 6 (x=2, 3) Monolayer Toward Electrocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis. ChemSusChem 2024; 17:e202301021. [PMID: 37701969 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202301021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted wide attention to be acted as potential electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). However, the coordination environment of the single transition metal (TM) atoms is essential to the catalytic activity for NRR. Herein, we proposed four types of 3-, 4-coordinated and π-d conjugated TMx B3 N3 S6 (x=2, 3, TM=Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Hf, Ta, W, Re and Os) monolayers for SACs. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, I-TM2 B3 N3 S6 and III-TM3 B3 N3 S6 are the reasonable 3-coordinated and 4-coordinated structures screening by structure stable optimizations, respectively. Next, the structural configurations, electronic properties and catalytic performances of 30 kinds of the 3-coordinated I-TM2 B3 N3 S6 and 4-coordinated III-TM3 B3 N3 S6 monolayers with different single transition metal atoms were systematically investigated. The results reveal that B3 N3 S6 ligand is an ideal support for TM atoms due to existence of strong TM-S bonds. The 3-coordinated I-V2 B3 N3 S6 is the best SAC with the low limiting potential (UL ) of -0.01 V, excellent stability (Ef =-0.32 eV, Udiss =0.02 V) and remarkable selectivity characteristics. This work not only provides novel π-d conjugated SACs, but also gives theoretical insights into their catalytic activities and offers reference for experimental synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxiu Sun
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, P. R. China
| | - Wenwu Shi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, P. R. China
| | - Aijian Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Mengxuan Sun
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, P. R. China
| | - Renyong Tu
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhijie Li
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, P. R. China
| | - Zhiguo Wang
- School of Information and Software Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, P. R. China
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Wang J, Li S, Liu Q, Zhao K, Yang Y, Wang X. Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of Acetamide from CO 2 and N 2 on a Single-Atom Alloy Catalyst. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:53436-53445. [PMID: 37934920 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11097] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added compounds not only paves the way toward a sustainable society but also unlocks the potential for electrocatalytic synthesis of amides through the introduction of N atoms. However, it also poses one of the greatest challenges in catalysis: achieving simultaneous completion of C-C coupling and C-N coupling. Here, we have meticulously investigated the catalytic prowess of Cu-based single-atom alloys in facilitating the electrochemical synthesis of acetamide from CO2 and N2. Through a comprehensive screening process encompassing catalyst stability, adsorption capability, and selectivity against the HER, W/Cu(111) SAA has emerged as an auspicious contender. The reaction entails CO2 reduction to CO, C-C coupling leading to the formation of a ketene intermediate *CCO, N2 reduction, and C-N coupling between NH3 and *CCO culminating in the production of acetamide. The W/Cu(111) surface not only exhibits exceptional activity in the formation of acetamide, with a barrier energy of 0.85 eV for the rate-determining CO hydrogenation step, but also effectively suppresses undesired side reactions leading to various C1 and C2 byproducts during CO2 reduction. This work presents a highly effective approach for forming C-C and C-N bonds via coelectroreduction of CO2 and N2, illuminating the reaction mechanism underlying acetamide synthesis from these two gases on single-atom alloy catalysts. The catalyst design strategy employed in this study has the potential to be extended to a range of amide chemicals, thereby broadening the scope of products that can be obtained through CO2/N2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Wang
- Institute of Molecular Plus, Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Sha Li
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Shantou 515041, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Molecular Plus and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Kaiheng Zhao
- Institute of Molecular Plus, Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Yongan Yang
- Institute of Molecular Plus, Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Physics, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, P. R. China
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Gao D, Yi D, Sun C, Yang Y, Wang X. Breaking the Volcano-Shaped Relationship for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction: A Computational Guideline. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022; 14:52806-52814. [PMID: 36380594 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c14134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The volcano-shaped relationship is very common in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (e-NRR) and is usually caused by the competition between the first and last hydrogenation steps. How to break such a relationship to further improve the catalytic performance remains a great challenge. Herein, using first-principles calculations, we investigate a range of transition-metal (TM)-doped Cu-based single-atom alloys (TM1-Cu(111)) as catalysts for e-NRR. When the adsorption of N2 on the catalysts is strong enough, the inert N2 molecules can be effectively activated for the first hydrogenation step. Meanwhile, the last hydrogenation step is not affected by the scaling relationship and remains easy on all of the catalysts due to the unstable top-site adsorption of NH2, resulting in the break of the volcano-shaped relationship in e-NRR. Thus, only the first hydrogenation step is identified as the potential determining step. Four TM1-Cu(111) catalysts (TM = Re, W, Tc, and Mo) are selected as promising catalysts with limiting potential ranging from -0.38 to -0.56 V, showing outstanding e-NRR activity. Besides, the four catalysts also inhibit the competing hydrogen evolution reaction and long-term stability. Our work provides a guideline for breaking the volcano-shaped relationship in e-NRR and significant in the rational design of highly efficient electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denglei Gao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin300354, P. R. China
| | - Ding Yi
- Department of Physics, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing100044, P. R. China
| | - Chao Sun
- Institute of Molecular Plus, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, P. R. China
| | - Yongan Yang
- Institute of Molecular Plus, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, P. R. China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Physics, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing100044, P. R. China
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