Cu3P nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide hybrid: an efficient electrocatalyst to realize N2-to-NH3 conversion under ambient conditions

Runbo Zhao; Qin Geng; Le Chang; Peipei Wei; Yonglan Luo; Xifeng Shi; Abdullah M. Asiri; Siyu Lu; Zhiming Wang; Xuping Sun

doi:10.1039/D0CC04374E

Cu₃P nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide hybrid: an efficient electrocatalyst to realize N₂-to-NH₃ conversion under ambient conditions†

Runbo Zhao,

‡^a Qin Geng,

‡^a Le Chang,

^a Peipei Wei,^a Yonglan Luo,

*^b Xifeng Shi,^c Abdullah M. Asiri,

^d Siyu Lu,

^e Zhiming Wang*^a and Xuping Sun

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
E-mail: zhmwang@gmail.com, xpsun@uestc.edu.cn

^b Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, Sichuan, China
E-mail: luoylcwnu@hotmail.com

^c College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China

^d Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science & Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

^e Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China

Abstract

Industrial NH₃ synthesis mainly relies on the Haber–Bosch process operated under harsh conditions. Ambient electrochemical N₂ reduction offers an eco-friendly and sustainable pathway for NH₃ synthesis, but its implementation depends on efficient electrocatalysts. Here, we report that a Cu₃P nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide (Cu₃P-rGO) hybrid serves as an efficient electrocatalyst toward NH₃ synthesis. Tested in 0.1 M HCl, Cu₃P-rGO exhibits a large NH₃ yield of 26.38 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat.⁻¹ and a high faradaic efficiency of 10.11% at −0.45 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode, with high electrochemical stability. Theoretical calculations reveal that Cu₃P can efficiently catalyze NH₃ synthesis.

Chemical Communications

Cu₃P nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide hybrid: an efficient electrocatalyst to realize N₂-to-NH₃ conversion under ambient conditions†

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Cu₃P nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide hybrid: an efficient electrocatalyst to realize N₂-to-NH₃ conversion under ambient conditions

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