Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

AbstractAmmonia (NH3) plays a vital role in food and industrial production and is a promising carbon-free energy storage carrier. At present, the main method of industrial synthesis of NH3 is the Haber–Bosch method, which is carried out under high temperature and high pressure, consumes a large amount of energy and emits greenhouse gases, and this process is unsustainable. In recent years, the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) has become a promising method for achieving green and sustainable NH3 synthesis under ambient conditions, which has attracted the attention of researchers. However, due to the inertness of nitrogen molecules and the strong side reaction of hydrogen evolution, the catalytic activity and selectivity are low, which is still a huge challenge to the wide application of electrocatalytic NRR. Therefore, the design and development of an efficient NRR electrocatalyst is an important subject of theoretical and experimental research. Carbon-based nanomaterials have become a research hotspot in the field of electrocatalytic NRR due to their excellent electrical conductivity, chemical stability, adjustable electronic structure, and morphology characteristics. This chapter will start with the reaction mechanism of electrocatalytic NRR synthesis of NH3, and introduce the types of carbon-based nanomaterials. The focus is on the design of various carbon-based nanomaterials and the principle of improving NRR activity. The classification mainly includes metal-free carbon-based, atomically dispersed metal carbon-based, metal nanoparticles encapsulated carbon-based and metal nanoparticles supported carbon-based electrocatalysts. Finally, the problems faced by carbon-based nanomaterial catalysts for NRR and the design of carbon-based nanomaterial catalysts in the future are discussed and prospected.KeywordsNitrogen reduction reactionCarbon-based nanomaterialsCarbon-based electrocatalystsAtomic catalystsNanomaterial’s modification