High-efficiency electrocatalyst for N2 conversion to NH3 based on Au nanoparticles loaded on defective WO3−x

Abstract

In this work, Au nanoparticles (NPs) grown on defective WO_3−x (Au/WO_3−x) show superior electrocatalytic N₂ reduction activity under ambient conditions in 0.1 M KOH. At −0.2 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE), the Au/WO_3−x catalyst achieves a large NH₃ yield of 23.15 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 14.72%. Further density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that electron transfer between the Au nanoparticles and defective WO_3−x promotes the activation of N₂ molecules effectively.