Ambient ammonia synthesis via palladium-catalyzed electrohydrogenation of dinitrogen at low overpotential

Nature Communications
Jun WangXiaofeng Feng

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of N2 to NH3 provides an alternative to the Haber-Bosch process for sustainable, distributed production of NH3 when powered by renewable electricity. However, the development of such process has been impeded by the lack of efficient electrocatalysts for N2 reduction. Here we report efficient electroreduction of N2 to NH3 on palladium nanoparticles in phosphate buffer solution under ambient conditions, which exhibits high activity and selectivity with an NH3 yield rate of ~4.5 μg mg-1Pd h-1 and a Faradaic efficiency of 8.2% at 0.1 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (corresponding to a low overpotential of 56 mV), outperforming other catalysts including gold and platinum. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the unique activity of palladium originates from its balanced hydrogen evolution activity and the Grotthuss-like hydride transfer mechanism on α-palladium hydride that lowers the free energy barrier of N2 hydrogenation to *N2H, the rate-limiting step for NH3 electrosynthesis.

References

Feb 1, 2005·Science·K HonkalaJ K Nørskov
Apr 14, 2005·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Berit HinnemannJens K Nørskov
Jan 19, 2008·Nature·Nicolas Gruber, James N Galloway
May 15, 2009·Chemical Reviews·Victor RoscaMarc T M Koper
Aug 17, 2012·Nature·Steven Chu, Arun Majumdar
May 8, 2014·Chemical Society Reviews·Cornelis J M van der HamDennis G H Hetterscheid
Sep 24, 2014·Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology·Grigorii L Soloveichik
Jul 12, 2017·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Gao-Feng ChenHaihui Wang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 25, 2018·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Hehan HuangXuping Sun
Nov 2, 2018·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Ling ZhangXuping Sun
Mar 1, 2019·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Miaomiao HanHuijun Zhao
Mar 19, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Xiaojuan ZhuXuping Sun
Mar 26, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Jinxiu ZhaoXuping Sun
Apr 11, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Jinxiu ZhaoXuping Sun
Apr 18, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Rong ZhangXuping Sun
Jun 13, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Ting WangXuping Sun
Sep 5, 2019·Membranes·Ioannis GaragounisMichael Stoukides
Dec 25, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Bingyue LiXuping Sun
Mar 3, 2020·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Tong XuXuping Sun
Apr 8, 2020·Nanoscale·Xudong Wen, Jingqi Guan
Feb 6, 2020·Chemistry, an Asian Journal·Yueming CaoYouyu Zhang
Mar 24, 2020·ChemSusChem·Xian-Wei LvZhong-Yong Yuan
May 21, 2020·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Jie WuPing Xu
Apr 26, 2020·Angewandte Chemie·Yuliang LiBolong Huang
Mar 20, 2020·Angewandte Chemie·Jun LongJianping Xiao

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
transmission electron microscopy
X-ray
nuclear magnetic resonance

Software Mentioned

- ESPRESSO )
Quantum
Atomic Simulation Environment ( ASE )

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.