Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation

The (photo)electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) provides a favorable avenue for the production of NH3 using renewable energy in mild operating conditions. Understanding and building an efficient catalyst with high NH3 selectivity represents an area of intense interest for the early stages of...

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Main Authors: Zheng, Jianyun, Lyu, Y., Qiao, M., Veder, Jean P, Marco, Roland D., Bradley, J., Wang, R., Li, Y., Huang, A., Jiang, San Ping, Wang, S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE140100150
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90892
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author Zheng, Jianyun
Lyu, Y.
Qiao, M.
Veder, Jean P
Marco, Roland D.
Bradley, J.
Wang, R.
Li, Y.
Huang, A.
Jiang, San Ping
Wang, S.
author_facet Zheng, Jianyun
Lyu, Y.
Qiao, M.
Veder, Jean P
Marco, Roland D.
Bradley, J.
Wang, R.
Li, Y.
Huang, A.
Jiang, San Ping
Wang, S.
author_sort Zheng, Jianyun
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The (photo)electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) provides a favorable avenue for the production of NH3 using renewable energy in mild operating conditions. Understanding and building an efficient catalyst with high NH3 selectivity represents an area of intense interest for the early stages of development for NRR. Herein, we introduce a CoOx layer to tune the local electronic structure of Au nanoparticles with positive valence sites for boosting conversion of N2 to NH3. The catalysts, possessing high average oxidation states (ca. 40 %), achieve a high NH3 yield rate of 15.1 μg cm−2 h−1 and a good faradic efficiency of 19 % at −0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Experimental results and simulations reveal that the ability to tune the oxidation state of Au enables the control of N2 adsorption and the concomitant energy barrier of NRR. Altering the Au oxidation state provides a unique strategy for control of NRR in the production of valuable NH3.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
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publishDate 2019
publisher WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-908922023-05-04T05:47:32Z Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation Zheng, Jianyun Lyu, Y. Qiao, M. Veder, Jean P Marco, Roland D. Bradley, J. Wang, R. Li, Y. Huang, A. Jiang, San Ping Wang, S. Science & Technology Physical Sciences Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Chemistry electrocatalysis gold nanoparticles nitrogen reduction reaction photoelectrochemistry REDUCTION REACTION electrocatalysis gold nanoparticles nitrogen reduction reaction photoelectrochemistry The (photo)electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) provides a favorable avenue for the production of NH3 using renewable energy in mild operating conditions. Understanding and building an efficient catalyst with high NH3 selectivity represents an area of intense interest for the early stages of development for NRR. Herein, we introduce a CoOx layer to tune the local electronic structure of Au nanoparticles with positive valence sites for boosting conversion of N2 to NH3. The catalysts, possessing high average oxidation states (ca. 40 %), achieve a high NH3 yield rate of 15.1 μg cm−2 h−1 and a good faradic efficiency of 19 % at −0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Experimental results and simulations reveal that the ability to tune the oxidation state of Au enables the control of N2 adsorption and the concomitant energy barrier of NRR. Altering the Au oxidation state provides a unique strategy for control of NRR in the production of valuable NH3. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90892 10.1002/anie.201909477 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE140100150 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP180100568 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP180100731 WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH fulltext
spellingShingle Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
electrocatalysis
gold
nanoparticles
nitrogen reduction reaction
photoelectrochemistry
REDUCTION REACTION
electrocatalysis
gold
nanoparticles
nitrogen reduction reaction
photoelectrochemistry
Zheng, Jianyun
Lyu, Y.
Qiao, M.
Veder, Jean P
Marco, Roland D.
Bradley, J.
Wang, R.
Li, Y.
Huang, A.
Jiang, San Ping
Wang, S.
Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation
title Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation
title_full Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation
title_fullStr Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation
title_full_unstemmed Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation
title_short Tuning the Electron Localization of Gold Enables the Control of Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation
title_sort tuning the electron localization of gold enables the control of nitrogen-to-ammonia fixation
topic Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
electrocatalysis
gold
nanoparticles
nitrogen reduction reaction
photoelectrochemistry
REDUCTION REACTION
electrocatalysis
gold
nanoparticles
nitrogen reduction reaction
photoelectrochemistry
url http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE140100150
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE140100150
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LE140100150
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90892