Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Tuning Oxide Properties by Oxygen Vacancy Control During Growth and Annealing
Published on: June 9, 2023
Ambient Electrosynthesis of Ammonia on a Core-Shell-Structured Au@CeO2 Catalyst: Contribution of Oxygen Vacancies in
Guoqiang Liu1, Zhiqing Cui1,2, Miaomiao Han1
1Key Laboratory of Materials Physics, Centre for, Environmental and Energy Nanomaterials, Anhui Key Laboratory of, Nanomaterials and Nanostructures, CAS Center for Excellence in, Nanoscience, Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Electrosynthesis of NH3 through the N2 reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions is regarded as promising technology to replace the industrial energy- and capital-intensive Haber-Bosch process. Herein, a room-temperature spontaneous redox approach to fabricate a core-shell-structured Au@CeO2 composite, with Au nanoparticle sizes below about 10 nm and a loading amount of 3.6 wt %, is reported for the NRR. The results demonstrate that as-synthesized Au@CeO2 possesses a surface area of 40.7 m2 g-1 and a porous structure. As an electrocatalyst, it exhibits high NRR activity, with an NH3 yield rate of 28.2 μg h-1 cm-2 (10.6 μg h-1 mg-1 cat. , 293.8 μg h-1 mg-1 Au ) and a faradaic efficiency of 9.50 % at -0.4 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.01 m H2 SO4 electrolyte. The characterization results reveal the presence of rich oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 nanoparticle shell of Au@CeO2 ; these are favorable for N2 adsorption and activation for the NRR. This has been further verified by theoretical calculations. The abundant oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 nanoparticle shell, combined with the Au nanoparticle core of Au@CeO2 , are electrocatalytically active sites for the NRR, and thus, synergistically enhance the conversion of N2 into NH3 .
Related Concept Videos
The Nucleosome Core Particle
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
Protein and Protein Structure
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...
Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures
Preparation of Amines: Alkylation of Ammonia and Amines
Each alkylation step makes the nitrogen center more nucleophilic, which triggers successive alkylations until a quaternary ammonium salt is formed. Considering...
Wechsler's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence

