DataVXACS Energy LettersPaper
journal article·2023-02-10Open access

Water Increases the Faradaic Selectivity of Li-Mediated Nitrogen Reduction

Matthew Spry, Olivia Westhead, Romain Tort, Benjamin Moss, Yu Katayama, Maria-Magdalena Titirici, Ifan E. L. Stephens, Alexander Bagger

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 8· Issue 2
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Source abstract

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The lithium-mediated system catalyzes nitrogen to ammonia under ambient conditions. Herein we discover that trace amount of water as an electrolyte additive─in contrast to prior reports from the literature–can effect a dramatic improvement in the Faradaic selectivity of N 2 reduction to NH 3 . We report that an optimal water concentration of 35.9 mM and LiClO 4 salt concentration of 0.8 M allows a Faradaic efficiency up to 27.9 ± 2.5% at ambient pressure. We attribute the increase in Faradaic efficiency to the incorporation of Li 2 O in the solid electrolyte interphase, as suggested by our X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Our results highlight the extreme sensitivity of lithium-mediated N 2 reduction to small changes in the experimental conditions.
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Research context

Energy storageCatalysis & surfaces

OpenAlex topics: Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction · Hydrogen Storage and Materials · Muon and positron interactions and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.

Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, Imperial College Rd, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, U.K.

SANKEN (Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan

Funding

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council · Royal Academy of Engineering · New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization · Japan Society for the Promotion of Science · Carlsbergfondet · Faraday Institution · H2020 European Research Council

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