Electrocatalytic and Photocatalytic N₂ Fixation Using Carbon Catalysts

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Nitrogen fixation (NF) is crucial for producing nitrogenous compounds but faces challenges from molecular inertia and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
• Current energy-intensive methods are inefficient, driving the search for alternatives.
• Transition metal catalysts activate nitrogen bonds but can inadvertently promote HER.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in defective carbon-based electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation.
• To explore defect engineering strategies for developing efficient carbon catalysts.
• To correlate catalyst structure with nitrogen fixation activity.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental and theoretical studies on defective carbon catalysts for NF.
• Analysis of defect engineering approaches in carbon materials.
• Investigation of structure-activity relationships for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR).

Main Results:

• Carbon-based materials exhibit tunable electronic structures and defect formation, enhancing electrocatalytic and photocatalytic NRR activity.
• Defective carbon catalysts show promise in overcoming HER competition.
• Novel carbon catalysts are emerging for more efficient NF.

Conclusions:

• Defective carbon electrocatalysts and photocatalysts are imperative for efficient and sustainable nitrogen fixation.
• Understanding the structure-property relationship is key to designing advanced carbon catalysts.
• Further development of novel carbon-based catalysts paves the way for sustainable nitrogenous compound production.