Self-supported V-doped NiO electrocatalyst achieving a high ammonia yield of 30.55 μg h-1 cm-2 under ambient conditions

To date, lots of efforts have been devoted to exploring an efficient route for N-2 fixation under ambient conditions. However, due to the high bond energy of the strong N N triple bond, it is still restricted by low NH3 yield and conversion efficiency. Based on a previous concept of using carbohydrates as an accessory ingredient to form hollow metal oxides, here, we report V-doped NiO self-supported on nickel foam as an excellent NRR catalyst. Using glucose as a dispersant to disperse the surface of V-doped NiO, V/NiO with a disordered morphology reaches its highest NH3 yield rate of 30.55 mu g h(-1) cm(-2) at -0.3 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and achieves a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 11% at -0.1 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH. Compared to NiO (5.32 mu g h(-1) cm(-2)), V/NiO shows significantly improved NRR performance. Further, using N-15(2) as a supply gas gives strong evidence for the accurate detection of the generated NH3 of V/NiO and N-2-TPD shows that V/NiO has stronger binding strength towards N-2, resulting in a splendid NH3 yield rate.

Automated summary

In this study, V-doped NiO self-supported on nickel foam was reported as an excellent NRR catalyst. Using glucose as a dispersant, V/NiO showed significantly improved NH3 yield rate and faradaic efficiency.