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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Identification of M-NH2 -NH2 Intermediate and Rate Determining Step for Nitrogen Reduction with Bioinspired
Yilong Zhao1, Fusheng Li1, Wenlong Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Institute of Artificial Photosynthesis, DUT-KTH Joint Education and Research Centre on Molecular Devices, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The multimetallic sulfur-framework catalytic site of biological nitrogenases allows the efficient conversion of dinitrogen (N2 ) to ammonia (NH3 ) under ambient conditions. Inspired by biological nitrogenases, a bimetallic sulfide material (FeWSx @FeWO4 ) was synthesized as a highly efficient N2 reduction (NRR) catalyst by sulfur substitution of the surface of FeWO4 nanoparticles. Thus prepared FeWSx @FeWO4 catalysts exhibit a relatively high NH3 production rate of 30.2 ug h-1 mg-1cat and a Faraday efficiency of 16.4 % at -0.45 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode in a flow cell; these results have been confirmed via purified 15 N2 -isotopic labeling experiments. In situ Raman spectra and hydrazine reduction kinetics analysis revealed that the reduction of undissociated hydrazine intermediates (M-NH2 -NH2 ) on the surface of the bimetallic sulfide catalyst is the rate-determing step for the NRR process. Therefore, this work can provide guidance for elucidating the structure-activity relationship of NRR catalysts.
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