Electrochemical Fixation of Nitrogen and Its Coupling with Biomass Valorization with a Strongly Adsorbing and Defect Optimized Boron-Carbon-Nitrogen Catalyst
- 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 theThe 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.…
Author details: | Qing QinORCiDGND, T. Heil, J. Schmidt, Max SchmalleggerORCiD, Georg GescheidtORCiD, Markus AntoniettiORCiDGND, Martin OschatzORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.9b01852 |
ISSN: | 2574-0962 |
Title of parent work (English): | ACS Applied Energy Materials |
Publisher: | American Chemical Society |
Place of publishing: | Washington |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Year of first publication: | 2019 |
Publication year: | 2019 |
Release date: | 2020/10/11 |
Tag: | HMF oxidation; N-2 reduction; heteroatoms; non-metal catalysis; porous carbon |
Volume: | 2 |
Issue: | 11 |
Number of pages: | 13 |
First page: | 8359 |
Last Page: | 8365 |
Funding institution: | Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under 2008/1, 390540038] |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Chemie |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 54 Chemie / 540 Chemie und zugeordnete Wissenschaften |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access |
Open Access / Hybrid Open-Access |