Holey reduced graphene oxide-assisted oxide-derived Bi for efficient nitrogen electroreduction. Issue 15 (14th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Peng; Cheng, Zhuo; Zeng, Liang; Tan, Lulu; Yu, Jian; Rushikesh, Joshi; Fan, Liang-Shih; Zhu, Yujie
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 15(2022)
• Page Start: 8245
• Page End: 8251
• Publication Date: 2022-03-14
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ta00673a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : A composite consisting of oxide-derived Bi embedded in the holes of reduced graphene oxide is synthesized for N2 electroreduction. The synergistic effect between the Bi defects and graphene vacancies leads to a high NH3 activity and selectivity. Abstract : Bismuth (Bi) has triggered rising scientific inquiry in the field of the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) due to its weak hydrogen binding capability and superior hydrogenation ability of *NN to *NNH. However, the application extension of Bi has been restricted owing to its unfavorable adsorption and activation of N2 and its poor electrical conductivity. Reconstructing Bi itself or combining it with other materials is a universal strategy to address these challenges. Here, by integrating these two strategies, we report a simple thermal method to directly synthesize oxide-derived Bi anchored in holey reduced graphene oxide (odBi-hRGO). Benefiting from the unique structure which exhibits elevated N2 adsorption, enhanced exposure of Bi active sites, and favorable inhibition of the hydrogen evolution reaction, odBi-hRGO showed a stimulative average NH3 yield and faradaic efficiency of up to 8.89 μg cm −2 h −1 at −0.6 V ( versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) and 24.34% at −0.55 V in 0.05 M H2 SO4 under ambient conditions. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that oxide-derived Bi with under-coordinated sites is more favorable for the NRR than ideal Bi while hRGO plays a critical role in suppressing the hydrogen evolution reaction.