Molybdenum oxide electrodeposition on boron-doped diamond: Investigation of valence state and application in electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia

Abstract

In this study, molybdenum-modified boron-doped diamond (MoBDD) was prepared by electrodeposition from a molybdate precursor, and the molybdenum oxide valence state was investigated by XPS analysis. The molybdenum oxide was used as an electrocatalyst in electrochemical nitrogen reduction for ammonia synthesis at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. MoBDD could produce ammonia at 1.26 nmol h−1 cm−2 with a faradaic efficiency of 9.15 % which was higher than a pure Mo plate set as a comparison. The XRD spectroscopy analysis suggests that high state Mo oxides are responsible for the electrocatalytic activity.