Synthesis of Cu@NC nanocube based on Cu2O for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia

Abstract

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction is a tremendous potential technology to convert N2 into highly value-added NH3. However, it still faces great challenges due to the difficult activation of nitrogen at room temperature. Herein, Cu@NC nanocubes were synthesized for the electrochemical nitrogen reduction via the calcination of cuprous oxide@PDA. The produced N-doped carbon from the carbonization of the PDA shell not only effectively protects the nanocube structure of the catalyst and enhances N2 adsorption ability but also provides the reduced intermediate to reduce cuprous oxide to Cu0. Cu0 as an effective active site effectively activates N2 and enhances the ammonia synthesis ability. Therefore, Cu@NC nanocubes show an outstanding electrochemical activity with an ammonia yield rate of 35.54 μg/h/mg cat and high Faradaic efficiency of 21.12%. This work provides a way to enhance the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction performance of Cu-based materials by introducing Cu0.