Enabling electrochemical conversion of N2 to NH3 under ambient conditions by a CoP3 nanoneedle array

Abstract

The Haber–Bosch process for industrial-scale NH₃ production suffers from hash reaction conditions and serious greenhouse gas emission. Electrochemical N₂ reduction is a sustainable and environmentally-benign alternative for ambient NH₃ synthesis while demands efficient electrocatalysts to drive the N₂ reduction reaction. Herein, we report the ambient electrocatalytic N₂-to-NH₃ conversion with excellent selectivity enabled by a CoP₃ nanoneedle array on carbon cloth (CoP₃/CC). When tested in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄, such CoP₃/CC achieves a high faradaic efficiency of 11.94% with an NH₃ yield of 3.61 × 10⁻¹¹ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻² at −0.20 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode. It also demonstrates high durability.