Light Field-Enhanced Single-Site Cu Electrocatalyst for Nitrogen Fixation |
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Authors: | Zhi-Qiang Zhao Kai Li Jia Liu Jun-Jie Mao Yu-Qing Lin |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048 China;2. Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, Anhui Key Laboratory of Molecule-Based Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000 China |
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Abstract: | Direct electrocatalytic reduction of N2 to NH3 under mild conditions is attracting considerable interests but still remains enormous challenges in terms of respect of intrinsic catalytic activity and limited electrocatalytic efficiency. Herein, a photo-enhanced strategy is developed to improve the NRR activity on Cu single atoms catalysts. The atomically dispersed Cu single atoms supported TiO2 nanosheets (Cu SAs/TiO2) achieve a Faradaic Efficiency (12.88%) and NH3 yield rate (6.26 µg h−1 mgcat−1) at −0.05 V versus RHE under the light irradiation field, in which NH3 yield rate is fivefold higher than that under pure electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) process and is remarkably superior in comparison to most of the similar type electrocatalysts. The existence of external light field improves electron transfer ability between Cu O and Ti O, and thus optimizes the accumulation of surface charges on Cu sites, endowing more electrons involved in nitrogen fixation. This work reveals an atomic-scale mechanistic understanding of field effect-enhanced electrochemical performance of catalysts and it provides predictive guidelines for the rational design of photo-enhanced electrochemical N2 reduction catalysts. |
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Keywords: | activation mechanism Cu single atoms supported TiO
2 nanosheets electrocatalytic light field nitrogen fixation |
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