Ammonia Electrosynthesis with a Stable Metal-Free 2D Silicon Phosphide Catalyst

Metal-free 2D phosphorus-based materials are emerging catalysts for ammonia (NH3) production through a sustainable electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction route under ambient conditions. However, their efficiency and stability remain challenging due to the surface oxidization. Herein, a stable phosphorus-based electrocatalyst, silicon phosphide (SiP), is explored. Density functional theory calculations certify that the N-2 activation can be realized on the zigzag Si sites with a dimeric end-on coordinated mode. Such sites also allow the subsequent protonation process via the alternating associative mechanism. As the proof-of-concept demonstration, both the crystalline and amorphous SiP nanosheets (denoted as C-SiP NSs and A-SiP NSs, respectively) are obtained through ultrasonic exfoliation processes, but only the crystalline one enables effective and stable electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction, in terms of an NH3 yield rate of 16.12 mu g h(-1) mg(cat.)(-1) and a Faradaic efficiency of 22.48% at -0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. The resistance to oxidization plays the decisive role in guaranteeing the NH3 electrosynthesis activity for C-SiP NSs. This surface stability endows C-SiP NSs with the capability to serve as appealing electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reactions and other promising applications.

Automated summary

Metal-free 2D phosphorus-based materials are potentially efficient and stable catalysts for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction. A stable phosphorus-based electrocatalyst, silicon phosphide (SiP), is explored and found to have high catalytic activity for NH3 production. Crystalline SiP nanosheets show superior electrocatalytic performance compared to amorphous SiP nanosheets due to their resistance to oxidization. The findings suggest that SiP nanosheets have great potential as electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reactions.