Co3(hexahydroxytriphenylene)2: A conductive metal-organic framework for ambient electrocatalytic N2 reduction to NH3

As a carbon-neutral alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, electrochemical N-2 reduction enables environment-friendly NH3 synthesis at ambient conditions but needs active electrocatalysts for the N-2 reduction reaction. Here, we report that conductive metal-organic framework Co-3(hexahydroxytriphenylene)(2) (Co3HHTP2) nanoparticles act as an efficient catalyst for ambient electrochemical N-2-to-NH3 fixation. When tested in 0.5 M LiClO4, such Co3HHTP2 achieves a large NH3 yield of 22.14 mu g center dot h(-1)mg(cat.)(-1) with a faradaic efficiency of 3.34% at -0.40 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. This catalyst also shows high electrochemical stability and excellent selectivity toward NH3 synthesis.