A MoS2 nanosheet–reduced graphene oxide hybrid: an efficient electrocatalyst for electrocatalytic N2 reduction to NH3 under ambient conditions. Issue 6 (24th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xianghong; Ren, Xiang; Liu, Xuejing; Zhao, Jinxiu; Sun, Xu; Zhang, Yong; Kuang, Xuan; Yan, Tao; Wei, Qin; Wu, Dan
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 2524
• Page End: 2528
• Publication Date: 2019-01-24
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ta10433f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : A MoS2 nanosheet–reduced graphene oxide hybrid behaves as a high-performance and stable catalyst for ambient electrochemical N2 -to-NH3 fixation. Abstract : NH3 production heavily relies on the traditional Haber–Bosch process, which is not only energy-intensive (1–3% of human's energy consumption) but also carbon-intensive (1.6% of global CO2 emissions). Electrochemical reduction offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for NH3 synthesis. Despite tremendous efforts, developing N2 reduction reaction (NRR) electrocatalysts with high activity and durability remains a great challenge. Here, we firstly report a MoS2 nanosheet–reduced graphene oxide hybrid (MoS2 –rGO) as a high-performance catalyst for the NRR. In 0.1 M LiClO4, this catalyst attains a high faradaic efficiency of 4.58% and a high NH3 yield of 24.82 μg h −1 mgcat. −1 at −0.45 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode. Notably, such MoS2 –rGO shows high electrochemical stability during electrolysis and recycling tests. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the potential-determining step of the proton–electron coupling transferring process is *NHNH2 → *NH2 NH2, and the following hydrogenation steps are feasible.