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Review Article

Iron-group electrocatalysts for ambient nitrogen reduction reaction in aqueous media

Benyuan Ma1,2, Haitao Zhao1, Tingshuai Li1, Qian Liu1, Yongsong Luo1, Chengbo Li1, Siyu Lu3, Abdullah M. Asiri4, Dongwei Ma5( ), Xuping Sun1( )
Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China
Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science & Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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Abstract

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is considered as an alternative to the industrial Haber-Bosch process for NH3 production due to both low energy consumption and environment friendliness. However, the major problem of electrochemical NRR is the unsatisfied efficiency and selectivity of electrocatalyst. As one group of the cheapest and most abundant transition metals, iron-group (Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) electrocatalysts show promising potential on cost and performance advantages as ideal substitute for traditional noble-metal catalysts. In this minireview, we summarize recent advances of iron-group-based materials (including their oxides, hydroxides, nitrides, sulfides and phosphides, etc.) as non-noble metal electrocatalysts towards ambient N2-to-NH3 conversion in aqueous media. Strategies to boost NRR performances and perspectives for future developments are discussed to provide guidance for the field of NRR studies.

Keywords

nitrogen reduction reactionelectrochemical NH3 synthesisiron-group catalystsambient conditions

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Nano Research
Volume 14 Issue 3,
March 2021
Pages 555-569
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-3049-5
Cite this article:
Ma B, Zhao H, Li T, et al. Iron-group electrocatalysts for ambient nitrogen reduction reaction in aqueous media. Nano Research, 2021, 14(3): 555-569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3049-5
Topics:
AmmoniaElectrocatalystsElectrolysis Energy utilizationIronNitrogenPhosphorus compoundsPrecious metalsSulfur compounds
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Received: 29 June 2020
Revised: 02 August 2020
Accepted: 10 August 2020
Published: 01 March 2021
© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
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