Regulating Electronic Spin Moments of Single-Atom Catalyst Sites via Single-Atom Promoter Tuning on S-Vacancy MoS2 for Efficient Nitrogen Fixation

The electrocatalytic activity of transition-metal (TM)-based catalysts is correlated with the spin states of metal atoms. However, developing a way to manipulate spin remains a great challenge. Using first-principles calculations, we first report the crucial role of the spin of exposed Mo atoms around an S-vacancy in the electrocatalytic dinitrogen reduction reaction on defective MoS2 nanosheets and propose a novel strategy for regulating the electronic spin moments by tuning a single-atom promoter (SAP). Single TM atoms adsorbed on a defective MoS2 basal plane serve as SAPs via a noncontact interaction with an exposed Mo active site, inducing a significant spin polarization that promotes N-2 adsorption and activation. Interestingly, by changing only the adsorption site of the TM atom, we are able to change the spin moments of the Mo atom, over a wide range of tunable values. The spin moments can be tuned to largely improve the catalytic activity of MoS2 toward the reduction of N-2 to NH3.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that manipulating the spin moments of metal atoms in MoS2 nanosheets through tuning a single-atom promoter can significantly enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the dinitrogen reduction reaction. By changing the adsorption site of the single transition-metal atom, the spin moments of the metal atom can be altered over a wide range, improving the catalytic efficiency towards the reduction of N-2 to NH3.