TY  - JOUR
A1  - Qin, Qing
A1  - Heil, T.
A1  - Schmidt, J.
A1  - Schmallegger, Max
A1  - Gescheidt, Georg
A1  - Antonietti, Markus
A1  - Oschatz, Martin
T1  - Electrochemical Fixation of Nitrogen and Its Coupling with Biomass Valorization with a Strongly Adsorbing and Defect Optimized Boron-Carbon-Nitrogen Catalyst
JF  - ACS Applied Energy Materials
N2  - The electrochemical conversion of low-cost precursors into high-value chemicals using renewably generated electricity is a promising approach to build up an environmentally friendly energy cycle, including a storage element. The large-scale implementation of such process can, however, only be realized by the design of cost-effective electrocatalysts with high efficiency and highest stability. Here, we report the synthesis of N and B codoped porous carbons. The constructed B-N motives combine abundant unpaired electrons and frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs). They result in desirable performance for electrochemical N-2 reduction reaction (NRR) and electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the absence of any metal cocatalyst. A maximum Faradaic efficiency of 15.2% with a stable NH3 production rate of 21.3 mu g h(-1) mg(-1) is obtained in NRR. Besides, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is first obtained by using non-metalbased electrocatalysts at a conversion of 71% and with yield of 57%. Gas adsorption experiments elucidate the relationship between the structure and the ability of the catalysts to activate the substrate molecules. This work opens up deep insights for the rational design of non-metal-based catalysts for potential electrocatalytic applications and the possible enhancement of their activity by the introduction of FLPs and point defects at grain boundaries.
KW  - non-metal catalysis
KW  - porous carbon
KW  - heteroatoms
KW  - N-2 reduction
KW  - HMF oxidation
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b01852
SN  - 2574-0962
VL  - 2
IS  - 11
SP  - 8359
EP  - 8365
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  -