Tuning Main Group Element‐based Metal–Organic Framework to Boost Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction Under Ambient Conditions

Abstract

AbstractMain group element‐based materials are emerging catalysts for ammonia (NH3) production via a sustainable electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (N2RR) pathway under ambient conditions. However, their N2RR performances are less explored due to the limited active behavior and unclear mechanism. Here, an aluminum‐based defective metal–organic framework (MOF), aluminum‐fumarate (Al‐Fum), is investigated. As a proof of concept, the pristine Al‐Fum MOF is synthesized by the solvothermal reaction process, and the defect engineering method namely solvent‐assisted linker exchange, is applied to create the defective Al sites. The defective Al sites play an important role in ensuring the N2RR activity for defective Al‐Fum. It is found that only the defective Al‐Fum enables stable and effective electrochemical N2RR, in terms of the highest production rate of 53.9 µg(NH3) h−1mgcat−1 (in 0.4 m K2SO4) and the Faradaic efficiency of 73.8% (in 0.1 m K2SO4) at −0.15 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode) under ambient conditions. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the N2 activation can be achieved on the defective Al sites. Such sites also allow the subsequent protonation process via the alternating associative mechanism. This defect characteristic gives the main group Al‐based MOFs the ability to serve as promising electrocatalysts for N2RR and other attractive applications.