Chromium phosphide nanoparticles embedded in porous nitrogen‐/phosphorus‐doped carbon as efficient electrocatalysts for a nitrogen reduction reaction. Issue 2 (21st January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Jiayuan; Chang, Bin; Yu, Wanqiang; Li, Xiao; Wang, Dufu; Xu, Zhinian; Zhang, Xiaoli; Liu, Hong; Zhou, Weijia
• Is Part Of: Carbon energy. Volume 4:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 237
• Page End: 245
• Publication Date: 2022-01-21
• Subjects: biosynthesis -- carbon‐based materials -- chromium phosphide -- leachate treatment -- nitrogen reduction reaction -- resource recovery; Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide industry -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Research -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Research; Energy industries; Carbon dioxide industry; Carbon; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 620.193
• DOI: 10.1002/cey2.160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2637-9368

Abstract

Abstract: The resource recovery of heavy metals from effluent has significant environmental implications and potential commercial value. Chromium phosphide nanoparticles embedded in a nitrogen‐/phosphorus‐doped porous carbon matrix (CrP/NPC) are synthesized via a consecutive Cr 6+ leachate treatment and resource recovery process. Electrochemical testing shows that CrP/NPC shows excellent nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) performance, which yields the highest NH3 production rate of 22.56 μg h −1 mg −1 cat. and Faradaic efficiency (16.37%) at −0.5 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode in a 0.05 M Na2 SO4 aqueous solution, as well as robust catalytic stability. The isotopic experiments using 15 N2 as a nitrogen source confirm that the detected NH3 is derived from the NRR process. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the electron deficiency environment of the Cr site can significantly reduce the barrier of the NRR process and promote the formation of intermediate species. Abstract : The resource recovery of heavy metals from the effluent is of environmental significance and potential commercial value. As a proof‐of‐concept, we have shown a Cr 6+ wastewater treatment and resource upgrading route to prepare chromium phosphide embedded in porous nitrogen‐/phosphorus‐doped carbon as an efficient electrocatalyst for the electrocatalytic reduction of N2 to NH3 under ambient conditions