Carbon-doped tin disulfide nanoflowers: a heteroatomic doping strategy for improving the electrocatalytic performance of nitrogen reduction to ammonia

Abstract

As a new method of ammonia (NH₃) synthesis, the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) has generated widespread attention. The tin-based catalysts represent a broad development prospect in the field of electrocatalysis, but their eNRR performances need to be improved. In this work, hydrophobic carbon-doped tin disulfide (C-SnS₂) was fabricated for the first time and adopted as an advanced catalyst for the eNRR. The doped C may adsorb more N₂ and significantly improve the conductivity, which will contribute synergistically to the performance of the eNRR. The C-SnS₂ nanoflower catalyst achieved a satisfactory NH₃ yield rate (62.3 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_cat.) and high Faraday efficiency (23.06%) at −0.2 V vs. RHE in acidic conditions (0.1 M HCl). This work may provide new methods for the further development of high activity eNRR catalysis.