Ambient electrohydrogenation of N2 for NH3 synthesis on non-metal boron phosphide nanoparticles: the critical role of P in boosting the catalytic activity

As a carbon-neutral alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, electrochemical N-2 reduction enables environment-friendly NH3 synthesis under ambient conditions but needs active electrocatalysts for the N-2 reduction reaction (NRR). In this communication, we report on the first experimental demonstration that non-metal boron phosphide (BP) nanoparticles can be used as a high-efficiency catalyst for the ambient electrohydrogenation of N-2 to NH3 with excellent selectivity. In 0.1 M HCl, this catalyst offers a high NH3 yield of 26.42 mu g h(-1) mg(cat.)(-1) and a high faradaic efficiency of 12.7% at -0.60 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode, much superior to those of reported B catalysts. Such an enhancement is attributed to the fact that P in BP further weakens the NN bond while simultaneously strengthening the B-N bond and favors the exposure of more active sites for the NRR catalysis, which is supported by density functional theory calculations.