Activating VS2 basal planes for enhanced NRR electrocatalysis: the synergistic role of S-vacancies and B dopants. Issue 32 (31st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Qingqing; Guo, Yali; Tian, Ye; Liu, Wuming; Chu, Ke
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 8:Issue 32(2020)
• Page Start: 16195
• Page End: 16202
• Publication Date: 2020-07-31
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ta05282e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : The synergistic role of S-vacancies and B-dopants enables the effective activation of VS2 basal planes for achieving dramatically enhanced NRR activity. Abstract : The nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a pivotal step in electrochemical N2 fixation to NH3 . VS2 holds great promise as a NRR electrocatalyst, but its high activity requires the sufficient activation of inert basal planes. Herein, we demonstrate the first successful activation of VS2 basal planes toward the NRR by introducing S-vacancies (Vs) and B-dopants. The theoretical calculations unravel that the synergistic role of VS and B-dopants enables the most effective activation of VS2 basal planes by creating unique B-adjacent-unsaturated-V active sites that can significantly promote the NRR while suppressing hydrogen evolution. The synthesized B-doped VS2 nanoflowers with enriched surface Vs delivered an NH3 yield of 55.7 μg h −1 mg −1 (−0.4 V) and a faradaic efficiency (FE) of 16.4% (−0.2 V) and represent the best V-based catalysts to date. Our theoretical and experimental findings may facilitate the exploration and understanding of advanced transition-metal disulfide catalysts for the NRR.