Is Molybdenum Disulfide Modified with Molybdenum Metal Catalytically Active for the Nitrogen Reduction Reaction?. Issue 14 (27th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Du, Hoang-Long; Hodgetts, Rebecca Y.; Chatti, Manjunath; Nguyen, Cuong K.; Macfarlane, Douglas R.; Simonov, Alexandr N.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 167:Issue 14(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10-27
• Subjects: nitrogen reduction reaction -- Electrocatalysis -- ammonia -- MoS2 -- ionic liquid; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/abc1a8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Inspired by the previously published theoretical findings, the present work aims to assess the electrocatalytic activity of molybdenum(IV) sulfide modified with metallic molybdenum for the nitrogen reduction reaction in aqueous electrolyte solution (0.1 M Li2 SO4 ; pH 3) and in aprotic [C4 mpyr][eFAP] ionic liquid electrolyte at ambient temperature. The material of interest was synthesized via a high-temperature partial reduction of MoS2, while electrocatalytic tests followed a previously established robust protocol, which in particular involves strict control over any NH3 and NO3 − /NO2 − contamination at every key step. As expected, no activity was found in aqueous solutions. In aprotic medium, the formation of small amounts of ammonia at low rates was observed and was found to strongly depend on the water concentration and applied potential. However, the amount of electrochemically generated NH3 always reached a particular limit and did not increase further, even when the N2 pressure was increased from 1 to 16 bar. The results suggest rapid blockage of the surface of the investigated electromaterial with NH3, which prevents its operation as a catalyst for the ammonia electrosynthesis.