A Metal-Sulfur-Carbon Catalyst Mimicking the Two-Component Architecture of Nitrogenase.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
; : e202412740, 2024 Aug 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39107257
ABSTRACT
The production of ammonia (NH3) from nitrogen sources involves competitive adsorption of different intermediates and multiple electron and proton transfers, presenting grand challenges in catalyst design. In nature nitrogenases reduce dinitrogen to NH3 using two component proteins, in which electrons and protons are delivered from Fe protein to the active site in MoFe protein for transfer to the bound N2. We draw inspiration from this structural enzymology, and design a two-component metal-sulfur-carbon (M-S-C) catalyst composed of sulfur-doped carbon-supported ruthenium (Ru) single atoms (SAs) and nanoparticles (NPs) for the electrochemical reduction of nitrate (NO3 -) to NH3. The catalyst demonstrates a remarkable NH3 yield rate of ~37â
mg L-1 h-1 and a Faradaic efficiency of ~97 % for over 200â
hours, outperforming those consisting solely of SAs or NPs, and even surpassing most reported electrocatalysts. Our experimental and theoretical investigations reveal the critical role of Ru SAs with the coordination of S in promoting the formation of the HONO intermediate and the subsequent reduction reaction over the NP-surface nearby. Such process results in a more energetically accessible pathway for NO3 - reduction on Ru NPs co-existing with SAs. This study proves a better understanding of how M-S-Cs act as a synthetic nitrogenase mimic during ammonia synthesis, and contributes to the future mechanism-based catalyst design.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
/
Angew. Chem. (Int. ed., Internet)
/
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. Internet)
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
Alemanha