Enhanced Ammonia Synthesis by Mo2+-Rich Graphene-Based Nanocomposite

Abstract

Graphene coupling molybdenum-based nanocomposite structures were synthesized by changing the pyrolytic temperature to implement the molybdenum-based optimized microstructure. The structural and surface properties tests showed that the presence of the most variable species and a high proportion of divalent molybdenum on the surface of the material could effectively expose catalytic sites to improve reduction ability of N2 and inhibited hydrogen evolution reaction. Electrochemical investigations indicated that the Mo-700/rGO nanocomposite exhibited a significantly enhanced electrochemical ammonia synthesis performance. In 0.05[Formula: see text]M H2SO4, the Mo-700/rGO electrode achieved a Faradic efficiency of 12.7% at [Formula: see text]0.15[Formula: see text]V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and an ammonia yield of 3.93[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text]0.2[Formula: see text]V versus RHE.