Theoretical study of single transition metal atom modified MoP as a nitrogen reduction electrocatalyst

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
Miaomiao HanHuijun Zhao

Abstract

It is highly attractive but challenging to develop earth-abundant electrocatalysts for nitrogen (N2) fixation. Here, by using density functional theory (DFT), we systematically investigate various single transition metal atom (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh and Pd) modified MoP surfaces as potential N2 reduction electrocatalysts for ammonia (NH3) synthesis. Through comparison of the stabilities of metal atom modified MoP, the adsorption energies and the bond lengths of N2 on different atom modified MoP, we select Mn and V as two candidates and study in detail the possible N2 reduction reaction (NRR) pathways for Mn-MoP and V-MoP. Our results revealed that Mn-MoP and V-MoP exhibit energy change values of 0.95 eV and 0.65 eV, respectively, with the first hydrogenation step being the potential-limiting step. Mn-MoP can efficiently suppress *H adsorption and reduce the competition of the hygrogen evolution reaction (HER) with the NRR; whereas, V-MoP cannot. Therefore, Mn-MoP is a better catalyst to realize the nitrogen reduction reaction. Overall, this work takes one step toward the NRR possibility of transition metal phosphides and provides some important insights and guidance to experiments.

References

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Jan 11, 2018·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Yao YaoMinhua Shao

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Citations

Apr 8, 2020·Nanoscale·Xudong Wen, Jingqi Guan
Jun 20, 2020·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Yao TanZhimin Ao
Nov 12, 2020·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Ziwei XuGuanjun Qiao

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Software Mentioned

Vienna Ab initio simulation package ( VASP )

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