Aqueous Al-N2 battery assembled by hollow molybdenum phosphate microspheres for simultaneous NH3 production and power generation

Author:Date:2021-12-14Views:35

论文题目:Aqueous Al-N2 battery assembled by hollow molybdenum phosphate microspheres for simultaneous NH3 production and power generation

论文作者:Jintao Ren, Lei Chen, Haoyu Wang, Zhongyong Yuan*

发表期刊:Chemical Engineering Journal, 418, 129447, 2021    

Abstract: 

Developing controllable and facile devices beyond traditional N-2  electrocatalysis cell is critical for the commercial production of NH3  through electrochemical N-2 reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient  condition. Herein, the aqueous Al-N-2 battery, fabricated by coupling  the hollow molybdenum phosphate microspheres as cathode and the Al plate  as anode within KOH electrolyte, was assembled for the electrochemical  reduction of N-2 to NH3 and power generation during the discharge  process. Benefiting from the desirable active components and the  structural advantages, the hollow molybdenum phosphate microspheres  derived from molybdenum phosphonates exhibit high NH3 yield rate of  18.66 mu g h(-1) mg(cat.)(-)1 with the Faradaic efficiency of 9.04% at -  0.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, associated with excellent  robustness for cycling operation. The Mo4+ species of molybdenum  phosphates are verified as the active components for NRR through the  associative reaction pathway. When measured in the flow battery  configuration with flowing N-2 during discharge, the formed Al-N-2  battery delivers the high NH3 yield rate of 13.47 mu g h(-1)  mg(cat.)(-1) and Faradaic efficiency of 5.06% at 1.0 V vs.  Al(OH)(4)(-)/Al, which can be stably maintained in discharge cycling  tests over 20 cycles. Moreover, the peak power density of 2.37 mW cm(-2)  and the long-term energy output are still achieved by this Al-N-2  battery during the discharge process. This work not only supplies some  guidelines for the rational design of active NRR electrocatalysts from  earth-abundant elements but also provides a reasonable and promising  devices for efficient electrochemical N-2 fixation and power generation.