Volume 17, Issue 40 2102363
Research Article

Synergistic Enhancement of Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Over Boron Nitride Quantum Dots Decorated Nb2CTx-MXene

Ke Chu

Corresponding Author

Ke Chu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070 China

E-mail: [email protected]

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Xingchuan Li

Xingchuan Li

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070 China

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Qingqing Li

Qingqing Li

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070 China

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Yali Guo

Yali Guo

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070 China

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Hu Zhang

Hu Zhang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083 China

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First published: 09 September 2021
Citations: 108

Abstract

Electrochemical N2 fixation represents a promising strategy toward sustainable NH3 synthesis, whereas the rational design of high-performance catalysts for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is urgently required but remains challenging. Herein, a novel hexagonal BN quantum dots (BNQDs) decorated Nb2CTxMXene (BNQDs@Nb2CTx) is explored as an efficient NRR catalyst. BNQDs@Nb2CTx presents the optimum NRR activity with an NH3 yield rate of 66.3 µg h−1 mg−1 (−0.4 V) and a Faradaic efficiency of 16.7% (−0.3 V), outperforming most of the state-of-the-art NRR catalysts, together with an excellent stability. Theoretical calculations revealed that the synergistic interplay of BNQDs and Nb2CTx enabled the creation of unique interfacial B sites serving as NRR catalytic centers capable of enhancing the N2 activation, lowering the reaction energy barrier and impeding the H2 evolution.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Research data are not shared.

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