High-Performance N-to-NH Conversion Electrocatalyzed by MoC Nanorod.

The synthesis of NH is mainly dominated by the traditional energy-consuming Haber-Bosch process with a mass of CO emission. Electrochemical conversion of N to NH emerges as a carbon-free process for the sustainable artificial N reduction reaction (NRR), but requires an efficient and stable electrocatalyst. Here, we report that the MoC nanorod serves as an excellent NRR electrocatalyst for artificial N fixation to NH with strong durability and acceptable selectivity under ambient conditions. Such a catalyst shows a high Faradaic efficiency of 8.13% and NH yield of 95.1 μg h mg at -0.3 V in 0.1 M HCl, surpassing the majority of reported electrochemical conversion NRR catalysts. Density functional theory calculation was carried out to gain further insight into the catalytic mechanism involved.