Efficient Ammonia Electrosynthesis and Energy Conversion through a Zn‐Nitrate Battery by Iron Doping Engineered Nickel Phosphide Catalyst. Issue 13 (9th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Rong; Guo, Ying; Zhang, Shaoce; Chen, Dong; Zhao, Yuwei; Huang, Zhaodong; Ma, Longtao; Li, Pei; Yang, Qi; Liang, Guojin; Zhi, Chunyi
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 12:Issue 13(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-09
• Subjects: ammonia electrosynthesis -- electronic engineering -- iron‐doped nickel phosphide -- nitrate reduction reaction -- Zn‐nitrate batteries; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202103872
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3 ‐RR) to ammonia (NH3 ) offers a promising alternative approach for NH3 production and nitrate‐based voltaic cells which can deliver both electricity and NH3 as products, are also highly attractive. However, nitrate‐to‐NH3 conversion involves a proton‐assisted multiple‐electron transfer process with considerable kinetic barrier, underlying the need for efficient catalysts for the NO3 – RR. A Zn‐nitrate battery is reported to enable a "killing three birds with one stone" strategy for energy supply, ammonia production and removal of pollutants with the iron doped nickel phosphide (Fe/Ni2 P) as a NO3 – RR catalyst electrode. Iron doping induces a downshift of the d‐band center of Ni atoms to the Fermi level, allowing the optimization of Gibbs free energies for reaction intermediates. The Fe/Ni2 P catalyst exhibits 94.3% NH3 Faradaic efficiency (FE) and nearly 100% nitrate conversion efficiency at –0.4 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Further applying this highly efficient NO3 – RR electrocatalyst as the cathode material, a novel Zn‐nitrate battery exhibits a power density of 3.25 mW cm –2 and a FE of 85.0% for NH3 production. This work enriches the application of Zn‐based batteries in the field of electrocatalysis and highlights the promise of bimetal phosphide for the NO3 – RR. Abstract : A Zn‐nitrate battery is reported to enable a "killing three birds with one stone" strategy for energy supply, ammonia production, and removal of pollutants with an iron doped nickel phosphide catalyst cathode. This battery system exhibits a power density of 3.25 mW cm −2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 85.0% for nitrate reduction to ammonia.