Issue 4, 2020

Bimetallic metal–organic framework-derived MoFe-PC microspheres for electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions

Abstract

Developing high-efficiency electrocatalysts for artificial nitrogen fixation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure is fundamentally important but challenging. Herein, MoFe-PC (PC, phosphorus-doped carbon) microspheres, synthesized by facile one-step pyrolysis–phosphating of bimetallic metal–organic framework (MOF) precursors, were used as a cost-efficient catalyst for the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). With the advantageous characteristics of the multicomponent active sites and porous structure inherited from the MOF precursor, the MoFe-PC catalyst achieves a peak NH3 yield rate of 34.23 μg h−1 mgcat.−1 with a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 16.83% at −0.5 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 0.1 M HCl under ambient conditions, exceeding those of most of the previously reported noble metal- or non-noble metal-based NRR electrocatalysts under the same conditions. The changes of the surface composition and structure of the catalyst before and after NRR testing are monitored by ex situ XPS and XANES. The Mo and Fe oxides and PC in the hybrids are both active in the NRR, synergistically enhancing the NRR performance.

Graphical abstract: Bimetallic metal–organic framework-derived MoFe-PC microspheres for electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Sept. 2019
Accepted
26 Dec. 2019
First published
30 Dec. 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020,8, 2099-2104

Bimetallic metal–organic framework-derived MoFe-PC microspheres for electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions

S. Chen, H. Jang, J. Wang, Q. Qin, X. Liu and J. Cho, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 2099 DOI: 10.1039/C9TA10524G

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