Scalable ammonia synthesis on the modified crystal structure of Cu3PS4 electrocatalyst

Abstract

Ammonia production, which is vital for agricultural and industrial applications, typically relies on energy-intensive processes that contribute to global CO2 emissions. Electrochemical nitrogen reduction is a promising alternative, although it faces challenges such as low yield and selectivity. Transition-metal-based catalysts, particularly Cu, are promising for overcoming these limitations. Cu3PS4 catalysts were synthesized and evaluated using a 9 cm2-scale electrode, revealing enhanced performance attributed to change in the crystal and electronic structure of Cu, facilitating N2 adsorption and improving the reaction activity. Notably, the ammonia synthesis rate reached 128 μg h-1 mgcat-1 at −1.0 V vs. RHE and faradaic efficiency was 34 % at −0.8 V vs. RHE. These findings provide potential insights into the improvement of practical electrochemical synthesis of ammonia.