Development of Carbon-Based Electrocatalysts for Ambient Nitrogen Reduction Reaction: Challenges and Perspectives

Ammonia is an important chemical and a potential carbon-free hydrogen-storage material. Currently, the industrial synthesis of ammonia is mainly achieved via the Haber-Bosch method, which requires high energy, temperatures, and pressures. An alternative method involves the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), which uses an aqueous solution as a medium and requires mild reaction conditions. The key to the NRR is to select an appropriate catalyst to increase the ammonia yield and Faradic efficiency. With their diverse structures and easy regulation, carbon-based materials can provide abundant active sites for nitrogen absorption and excitation. Moreover, they are abundant, low cost, and readily available, making them promising for use in NRR applications. Accordingly, we review the latest progress in using carbon-based materials in the NRR, and the future development prospects of NRR catalysts are discussed. Finally, challenges and perspectives of the future research of NRR catalysts are provided.

Automated summary

Research on the application of carbon-based materials in NRR is crucial for increasing ammonia yield and Faradic efficiency. Carbon-based materials provide abundant active sites and easy regulation, making them low-cost and readily available, thus showing great potential in NRR applications.