Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 648-661.doi: 10.1007/s40242-020-0171-6

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Recent Progress on 2D Transition Metal Compounds-based Electrocatalysts for Efficient Nitrogen Reduction

DONG Wenfei1, CHEN Xiaoyu1, PENG Juan1, LIU Wanyi1, JIN Xiaoyong1, NI Gang1, LIU Zheng2,3,4   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, P. R. China;
    2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore;
    3. CINTRA CNRS/NTU/THALES, Research Techno Plaza, Singapore 639798, Singapore;
    4. Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Singapore 639798, Singapore
  • Received:2020-06-06 Revised:2020-07-07 Online:2020-08-01 Published:2020-07-30
  • Contact: PENG Juan, LIU Zheng E-mail:z.liu@ntu.edu.sg;pengjuan@nxu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia, China(No.2018AAC03012), the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21765016), the Ningxia Leading Scientific and Technological Innovation Talents Project, China (No.KJT2018002) and the National First-rate Discipline Project of Ningxia, China(NXYLXK2017A04).

Abstract: Ammonia is a commodity chemical with high added value. Electrochemical reduction of nitrogen has great promise for the sustainable synthesis of ammonia in recent years. Because of its rich resources and unique electronic structure and characteristics, 2D transition metal compounds have been used as electrocatalysts for electrochemical reduction of nitrogen for clean and sustainable production of ammonia. This review outlines the latest development in the use of 2D transition metal compounds as high-efficiency electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR). First, we introduce the N2 reduction mechanism, and briefly summarize the performance indicators of the catalyst. Then, we focused on the functionalization of unique 2D materials to design high-performance 2D electrocatalysts in respect of simulation calculation and experimental development. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities for NRR electrocatalysts are introduced.

Key words: Electrochemical NH3 synthesis, Transition metal, Nitrogen fixation, Electrocatalysis