Efficient N2 fixation in air enabled by mechanical-energy-driven triboelectric plasma jet

Abstract

N2 fixation driven by mechanical energy is a promising strategy for production of nitrogen-enriched compounds. However, the activity of mechanical-energy-driven N2 fixation is very low. Herein, a mechanical-energy-driven triboelectric plasma jet was constructed to achieve N2 fixation in air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Under optimal conditions, the NOX production rate of 4.82 μmol h−1 is 23-fold better than the previous record using a triboelectric nanogenerator. The electrical to chemical energy conversion efficiency and energy cost for NOX production are 4.92% and 1.76 MJ mol−1 N−1, respectively, and the energy cost is the best result in the reported plasma N2 fixation reaction at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Because of the lower average energy of electrons in the triboelectric plasma jet, the vibrational excitation dissociation process with low energy barriers is the major mechanism for N2 fixation. This study provides an effective strategy for N2 fixation using mechanical energy.