High‐Energy Polynitrogen N10 Stabilized on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

AbstractThe synthesis of stable polynitrogen compounds with high‐energy density has long been a major challenge. The cyclo‐pentazolate anion (cyclo‐N5−) is successfully converted into aromatic and structurally symmetric bipentazole (N10) via electrochemical synthesis using highly conductive multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the substrate and sodium pentazolate hydrate ([Na(H2O)(N5)]·2H2O) as the raw material. Attenuated total refraction Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and density functional theory calculations confirmed the structure and homogeneous distribution of N10 in the sidewalls of the MWCNTs (named MWCNT‐N10‐n m). The MWCNT‐N10‐2.0 m is further used as a catalyst for electrochemical oxygen reduction to synthesize hydrogen peroxide from oxygen with a two‐electron selectivity of up to 95%.