Cerium Zirconium Solid Solution with High Faradaic Efficiency for Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction Reaction under Ambient Condition. Issue 20 (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Xiang; He, Xiaobo; Li, Zhichun; Yin, Fengxiang
• Is Part Of: ChemElectroChem. Volume 8:Issue 20(2021)
• Page Start: 3875
• Page End: 3881
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: electrocatalysis -- nitrogen reduction reaction -- cerium zirconium solid solution -- oxygen vacancy -- Faraday efficiency; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1002/celc.202101060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-0216

Abstract

Abstract: Industrial synthesis of ammonia (NH3 ) involves high energy consumption resulting in intense pollution. Alternatively, electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to NH3 can be carried out under mild conditions, which is a new green NH3 synthesis method. Herein, cerium zirconium solid solutions (Zrx Ce1‐x O2 ) with different proportions were synthesized by NH3 precipitation method and employed as electrocatalysts for NRR. The performance of the different catalysts in 0.1 mol L −1 Na2 SO4 was evaluated with H2 O and N2 as reactants. The results show that Zr0.9 Ce0.1 O2 has the highest Faraday efficiency (FE) of 62.68 % at −1.3 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the highest yield rate of NH3 −9.34×10 −11 mol cm −2 s −1 at −1.35 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The impressive FE is due to more oxygen vacancies in Zr0.9 Ce0.1 O2 introduced by Ce 3+, which is more prone to the adsorption of N2 on the catalyst surface and facilitates the electrochemical reaction. Abstract : The abundant oxygen vacancies created by Ce 3+ in the cerium zirconium solid solution structure enhances the catalytic reduction of nitrogen to NH3 .As a result, Zr0.9 Ce0.1 O2 achieves the highest NH3 yield rate of 9.34×10 −11 mol cm −2 s −1 and a Faraday efficiency of 62.68 %.