Efficient electrocatalytic reduction of N2 to ammonia at ambient conditions with municipal sludge-derived porous carbon codoped with multiple heteroatoms. (10th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deng, Lifang; Wang, Lufeng; Wei, Guoqiang; Yuan, Haoran; Xie, Jun; Chen, Yong
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 408(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-10
• Subjects: Municipal sludge -- Electrocatalytic reduction -- N2 to ammonia -- Faraday efficiency; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.139934
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: Electrocatalytic reduction of N2 to ammonia (NH3 ) at ambient conditions has attracted widespread attention, and revealing the mechanism has been a remarkably challenging problem for decades. This work developed a low-cost and efficient multiple heteroatom codoped porous carbon catalyst from municipal sludge (MSB-P), which demonstrated excellent electrochemical stability and selectivity for the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (N2 RR). In 0.1 mol/L HCl solution, a high NH3 yield rate of 35.76 µg. h − 1 .mg −1 cat. and an excellent Faraday Efficiency (FE) of 7.79% at -0.7 V vs. RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) were obtained under ambient conditions. Furthermore, the electrocatalytic mechanism of MSB-P for N2 RR was also revealed by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data, and an associative route was identified. These findings provide an exciting new method for fabricating inexpensive and efficient carbon-based catalysts for production of NH3 at ambient conditions. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract A low-cost and efficient multiple heteroatom codoped porous carbon catalyst was derived from municipal sludge based on a pyrolysis process without hazardous activation treatment. The prepared porous carbon exhibits excellent electrochemical stability and selectivity for the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (N2 RR), a high NH3 yield rate and an excellent Faraday Efficiency (FE) were obtained under ambient conditions.