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Research Article

The role of central heteroatom in electrochemical nitrogen reduction catalyzed by polyoxometalate-supported single-atom catalyst

Linghui Lin1Fenfei Wei1Rong Jiang2( )Yucheng Huang3( )Sen Lin1,4( )
State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Institute of Advanced Energy Materials, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China
College of Chemistry and Material Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Xiamen 361005, China
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Graphical Abstract

This work reveals the important role of outer-shell coordination environment in regulating the catalytic performance of single-atom electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR).

Abstract

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have recently emerged as stars in boosting the synthesis of NH3 from N2, as the catalytic performance of the supported single atoms can be modulated by their coordination environment. In this work, we propose a new strategy, based on comprehensive density functional theory calculations, whereby the coordination environment of a single Mo atom can be tuned by a central heteroatom (X = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, and As) in the Kegging-type polyoxometalate (POM, (XW12O40)n) substrate to catalyze the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR). Firstly, we demonstrate that the single Mo atom binds strongly to the POM surface oxygen hollow sites without aggregation. Secondly, the adsorption of *N2 on the POM-supported Mo atom is investigated and the reactivity is assessed by calculating the thermodynamics of the NRR. The results show that the POM (X = Co and As) supported Mo atom has high NRR activity with low limiting potentials. Finally, we reveal the origin of the NRR activity by analyzing the electronic structure. The results show that the charge on the O atoms of oxygen hollow sites is affected by the central heteroatom. Due to such effect, it can be found that more d electrons are transferred from Mo supported by POM (X = Co and As) to *N2, thus the N≡N triple bond is activated. This strategy of coordination environment tuning proposed in this work provides a useful guide for the design of efficient catalysts for electrocatalysis.

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Nano Research
Pages 309-317
Cite this article:
Lin L, Wei F, Jiang R, et al. The role of central heteroatom in electrochemical nitrogen reduction catalyzed by polyoxometalate-supported single-atom catalyst. Nano Research, 2023, 16(1): 309-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4800-x
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Received: 05 July 2022
Revised: 19 July 2022
Accepted: 20 July 2022
Published: 17 August 2022
© Tsinghua University Press 2022
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