Recent Advances in Nonprecious Metal Oxide Electrocatalysts and Photocatalysts for N2 Reduction Reaction under Ambient Condition

Tong Xu; Jie Liang; Shaoxiong Li; Zhaoquan Xu; Luchao Yue; Tingshuai Li; Yonglan Luo; Qian Liu; Xifeng Shi; Abdullah M. Asiri; Chun Yang; Xuping Sun

doi:10.1002/smsc.202000069

Small Science (May 2021)

Recent Advances in Nonprecious Metal Oxide Electrocatalysts and Photocatalysts for N2 Reduction Reaction under Ambient Condition

Tong Xu,
Jie Liang,
Shaoxiong Li,
Zhaoquan Xu,
Luchao Yue,
Tingshuai Li,
Yonglan Luo,
Qian Liu,
Xifeng Shi,
Abdullah M. Asiri,
Chun Yang,
Xuping Sun

Affiliations

Tong Xu: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Jie Liang: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Shaoxiong Li: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Zhaoquan Xu: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Luchao Yue: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Tingshuai Li: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Yonglan Luo: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Qian Liu: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China
Xifeng Shi: College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Shandong Normal University Jinan Shandong 250014 China
Abdullah M. Asiri: Chemistry Department Faculty of Science & Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research King Abdulaziz University P.O. Box 80203 Jeddah 21589 Saudi Arabia
Chun Yang: College of Chemistry and Materials Science Sichuan Normal University Chengdu Sichuan 610068 China
Xuping Sun: Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu Sichuan 610054 China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.202000069
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1, no. 5
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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NH3 plays an indispensable role in agriculture, fertilizer production as well as in the chemical industry. However, its large‐scale production still relies deeply on the century‐old Haber–Bosch process under high temperature and pressure along with greenhouse gas emission and fossil fuel consumption. The electrocatalytic and photocatalytic N2 reduction reactions (NRRs) for NH3 production are favorable approaches to avoid these issues because they are carbon‐neutral and energy‐saving. Recently, the nonprecious metal oxides (NPMO) have gathered the most attention due to their ease of synthesis, controllable stability, lower cost, and environmental friendliness. Herein, the recent advances in NPMO electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for the NRR are narrated and the strategies to improve the poor NRR activity of pristine NPMOs by heteroatom doping to engineer their surface‐active sites and introduction of oxygen vacancies are highlighted. A brief summary of and the future perspective on this research field are also presented.

Published in Small Science

ISSN: 2688-4046 (Online)
Publisher: Wiley-VCH
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/26884046

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