能源化学(英文版)

能源化学(英文版) ›› 2020, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (10): 51-58.DOI: 10.1016/j.jechem.2020.01.029

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The removal of inevitable NOx species in catalysts and the selection of appropriate membrane for measuring electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis accurately

Huimin Liu, Yidan Zhang, Jingshan Luo   

  1. Institute of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology,Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology of Tianjin,Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Photoelectronic Technology,Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center,Nankai University,Tianjin 300350,China
  • 收稿日期:2019-12-24 修回日期:2020-01-21 出版日期:2020-10-15 发布日期:2020-12-18
  • 通讯作者: Jingshan Luo
  • 基金资助:
    The authors would like to thank Prof.Ying Zhao and Prof.Xiaodan Zhang for partial use of their instrument.J.L.acknowledges the funding support from the National Thousand Talent Program for Young Professionals and the startup funding from Nankai University.The Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation of Higher Education of China(Grant no.B16027)is also acknowledged.

The removal of inevitable NOx species in catalysts and the selection of appropriate membrane for measuring electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis accurately

Huimin Liu, Yidan Zhang, Jingshan Luo   

  1. Institute of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology,Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology of Tianjin,Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Photoelectronic Technology,Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center,Nankai University,Tianjin 300350,China
  • Received:2019-12-24 Revised:2020-01-21 Online:2020-10-15 Published:2020-12-18
  • Contact: Jingshan Luo
  • Supported by:
    The authors would like to thank Prof.Ying Zhao and Prof.Xiaodan Zhang for partial use of their instrument.J.L.acknowledges the funding support from the National Thousand Talent Program for Young Professionals and the startup funding from Nankai University.The Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation of Higher Education of China(Grant no.B16027)is also acknowledged.

摘要： Ammonia synthesis by electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is considered as a promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process.However,due to the extremely low ammonia yield and easily accessible extraneous contamination in the laboratory,NRR study always suffers from fluctuation and variability.Finding and eliminating all kinds of possible extraneous contamination is crucial to evaluate the performance of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis accurately.In this work,we systematically explored two factors that affect NRR results but are easy to be ignored:the selection of membrane for NRR and the unconscious N-source in NRR catalysts.After series of experiments,we proposed a low-cost and almost pollution-free Celgard 3501 membrane as the separator for NRR to avoid the adsorption and release of ammonia by the membrane.In addition,we proposed a pre-reduction strategy to remove residual or adsorbed NOx contaminants in catalysts.These two solutions will help the community to evaluate the NRR activity more accurately.

关键词: Electrocatalysis, Nitrogen reduction reaction, Nafion membrane, Nitrate impurity, Pre-reduction

Abstract: Ammonia synthesis by electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is considered as a promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process.However,due to the extremely low ammonia yield and easily accessible extraneous contamination in the laboratory,NRR study always suffers from fluctuation and variability.Finding and eliminating all kinds of possible extraneous contamination is crucial to evaluate the performance of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis accurately.In this work,we systematically explored two factors that affect NRR results but are easy to be ignored:the selection of membrane for NRR and the unconscious N-source in NRR catalysts.After series of experiments,we proposed a low-cost and almost pollution-free Celgard 3501 membrane as the separator for NRR to avoid the adsorption and release of ammonia by the membrane.In addition,we proposed a pre-reduction strategy to remove residual or adsorbed NOx contaminants in catalysts.These two solutions will help the community to evaluate the NRR activity more accurately.

Key words: Electrocatalysis, Nitrogen reduction reaction, Nafion membrane, Nitrate impurity, Pre-reduction