Atomic‐Scale Homogeneous RuCu Alloy Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction. Issue 40 (4th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Chansol; Song, Ji‐Yoon; Choi, Changhyeok; Ha, Jin Pil; Lee, Wonmoo; Nam, Yoon Tae; Lee, Dong‐myeong; Kim, Gunjoo; Gereige, Issam; Jung, Woo‐Bin; Lee, Hyunjoo; Jung, Yousung; Jeong, Hyeonsu; Jung, Hee‐Tae
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 34:Issue 40(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-09-04
• Subjects: carbothermal shock -- cellulose -- electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction -- homogeneous alloys -- immiscible metals -- rapid cooling process -- ruthenium; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202205270
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Ruthenium (Ru) is the most widely used metal as an electrocatalyst for nitrogen (N2 ) reduction reaction (NRR) because of the relatively high N2 adsorption strength for successive reaction. Recently, it has been well reported that the homogeneous Ru‐based metal alloys such as RuRh, RuPt, and RuCo significantly enhance the selectivity and formation rate of ammonia (NH3 ). However, the metal combinations for NRR have been limited to several miscible combinations of metals with Ru, although various immiscible combinations have immense potential to show high NRR performance. In this study, an immiscible combination of Ru and copper (Cu) is first utilized, and homogeneous alloy nanoparticles (RuCu NPs) are fabricated by the carbothermal shock method. The RuCu homogeneous NP alloys on cellulose/carbon nanotube sponge exhibit the highest selectivity and NH3 formation rate of ≈31% and −73 μmol h −1 cm −2, respectively. These are the highest values of the selectivity and NH3 formation rates among existing Ru‐based alloy metal combinations. Abstract : An atomic‐scale homogeneous alloy of immiscible metals is first implemented in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (NRR) by a unique carbothermal shock method. Atomic‐scale mixing of ruthenium and copper facilitates pivotal reaction steps in NRR, showing high selectivity and formation rate to ammonia. This paves the way for developing numerous potential homogeneous alloys of immiscible metal combinations for future efficient NRR electrocatalysts.