Amorphous ReS2 decorated TiO2 nanowire arrays for highly-efficient nitrogen reduction
Xiaoying Lu1, Hua Li, Yantao Wang
1State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|May 25, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed amorphous rhenium disulfide (ReS2) nanosheets on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanowires for enhanced ammonia production. This catalyst achieved high ammonia yield and efficiency, showing promise for nitrogen reduction reactions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Electrocatalytic ammonia (NH3) synthesis is a sustainable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process.
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct amorphous ReS2 nanosheets anchored on TiO2 nanowires.
- To investigate the electrocatalytic performance for ammonia synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Amorphous ReS2 nanosheets were synthesized and anchored on TiO2 nanowires via Ti-O-Re bonds.
- Electrocatalytic performance was evaluated in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution.
Main Results:
- The catalyst achieved an ammonia yield of 5.3 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻²cat. and a faradaic efficiency of 49.8% at -0.2 V vs. RHE.
- The performance is attributed to the amorphous nature of ReS2, oxygen vacancies in TiO2, and their synergistic effects.
Conclusions:
- The developed catalyst demonstrates excellent NRR performance.
- The findings highlight the potential of amorphous TMDs and defect-rich supports for efficient electrocatalytic ammonia production.
