Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Selective Reduction of Bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks to Construct Bifunctional Photothermal Catalysts.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Two-Dimensional Magnetic Phosphite Oxalate K<sub>2</sub>Co<sub>2</sub>(HPO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(C<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>2</sub> with Triangular Arrangement of Spin Dimers.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Correction: The EHMT2-MBLAC2 axis suppresses ribosomal DNA transcription in response to nucleolar DNA damage.

Cell death & disease·2026

Same author

Real-world operational characteristics of perovskite photovoltaics.

BMC chemistry·2026

Same author

Autistic traits in children with ADHD: preliminary evidence for a subgroup with elevated rule-breaking and aggressive behaviors.

BMC psychiatry·2026

Same author

Prognostic value of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Frontiers in oncology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Evaluations of ZnCoS/ZnCdS with Twin Crystal Structure for Multifunctional Redox Photocatalysis in Energy Applications

Synthesis and Performance Evaluations of ZnCoS/ZnCdS with Twin Crystal Structure for Multifunctional Redox Photocatalysis in Energy Applications

Published on: July 25, 2025

Copper Selenide Nanosheet with Adjustable Cation Vacancy for Boosting Nitrogen Electroreduction.

Xiaohan Li¹, Shuo Chen², Yuao Wei²

¹Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, P. R. China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|December 10, 2025

Summary

Researchers engineered copper selenide nanosheets with specific copper vacancies (V_Cu) to boost the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) for sustainable ammonia synthesis. The optimized catalyst significantly enhanced ammonia production rates, offering a new path for high-performance electrocatalysts.

Keywords:

cation vacancy defect engineering metal−organic framework derivative nitrogen reduction reaction plasma etching

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Robust Nanoscale Contact between a Silver Nanowire Electrode and CdS Buffer Layer in CuIn,GaSe2 Thin-film Solar Cells

Fabrication of Robust Nanoscale Contact between a Silver Nanowire Electrode and CdS Buffer Layer in CuIn,GaSe2 Thin-film Solar Cells

Published on: July 19, 2019

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Published on: August 23, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Evaluations of ZnCoS/ZnCdS with Twin Crystal Structure for Multifunctional Redox Photocatalysis in Energy Applications

Synthesis and Performance Evaluations of ZnCoS/ZnCdS with Twin Crystal Structure for Multifunctional Redox Photocatalysis in Energy Applications

Published on: July 25, 2025

Fabrication of Robust Nanoscale Contact between a Silver Nanowire Electrode and CdS Buffer Layer in CuIn,GaSe2 Thin-film Solar Cells

Fabrication of Robust Nanoscale Contact between a Silver Nanowire Electrode and CdS Buffer Layer in CuIn,GaSe2 Thin-film Solar Cells

Published on: July 19, 2019

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Harvesting Solar Energy by Means of Charge-Separating Nanocrystals and Their Solids

Published on: August 23, 2012

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Electrochemistry
Catalysis

Background:

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a sustainable method for ammonia synthesis.
Vacancy engineering in catalysts enhances nitrogen-to-ammonia conversion.
Controlling cation vacancy concentration in catalysts is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a method for fabricating copper selenide nanosheets with precisely tuned copper vacancy (V_Cu) concentrations.
To investigate the effect of V_Cu concentration on NRR performance.
To provide insights into the role of V_Cu sites in ammonia synthesis.

Main Methods:

Combined thermal treatment and plasma approach for catalyst synthesis.
Fabrication of copper selenide nanosheets with varying V_Cu concentrations.
Electrochemical characterization of catalysts for NRR activity.

Main Results:

A catalyst (p-Cu_1.8Se/Cu₂Se/C-5) with the highest V_Cu concentration showed superior NRR activity.
Achieved an NH₃ production rate of 21.81 μg h^-1 mg_cat.^-1 at -0.7 V vs RHE, over 3-fold higher than vacancy-free.
Identified V_Cu sites as active centers optimizing nitrogen adsorption and activation.

Conclusions:

Precisely engineered copper vacancies significantly enhance NRR performance.
V_Cu sites lower the energy barrier for ammonia synthesis.
This defect engineering approach offers a new strategy for designing advanced NRR electrocatalysts.