MnO–carbon nanofiber composite material toward electro-chemical N2 fixation under ambient conditions

Abstract

The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions is regarded as a promising substitute approach to the Haber–Bosch process for artificial N₂ fixation to NH₃. In this communication, we constructed well-defined one-dimensional MnO nanocrystals encapsulated in carbon nanofibers (MnO–CNF) via an electrospinning method. MnO–CNF behaves as an excellent non-noble-metal NRR electrocatalyst for NH₃ synthesis with a faradaic efficiency of 1.52% in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ solution under ambient conditions. Remarkably, it attains a high NH₃ formation rate of 35.9 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat⁻¹ and also shows excellent durability during electrolysis and recycling tests.