Fe, Mo N/C Hollow Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanorods as an Effective Electrocatalyst for N2 Reduction Reaction

The development of highly active, non-noble metal-based materials for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under environmental conditions is still a challenge. Herein, we have designed novel Fe, MoN/C hollow porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanorods as an effective catalyst for N-2 fixation by means of the pyrolysisacid etching process. A high ammonia (NH3) formation rate (1.52 x 10(6) mol h(1) cm(2)) and Faradaic efficiency (FE, 14.2%) at -0.1 V versus RHE are obtained for NRR in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution. FeN chi and MoN chi units simultaneously serve as catalytic sites for promoting ammonia synthesis, and the concentration of pyridinic N is also essential for the enhanced ammonia production and FE. Therefore, this study accomplishes superior electrocatalytic performance of the Fe, MoN/C hollow nanorods toward NRR in ammonia synthesis application.