Enhancing Green Ammonia Electrosynthesis Through Tuning Sn Vacancies in Sn-Based MXene/MAX Hybrids

Enhancing Green Ammonia Electrosynthesis Through Tuning Sn Vacancies in Sn-Based MXene/MAX Hybrids

2024 | Xinyu Dai, Zhen-Yi Du, Ying Sun, Ping Chen, Xiaoguang Duan, Junjun Zhang, Hui Li, Yang Fu, Baohua Jia, Lei Zhang, Wenhui Fang, Jieshan Qiu, Tianyi Ma
This study presents a novel Sn-based MXene/MAX hybrid, Sn@Ti₂CTₓ/Ti₂SnC–V, synthesized through controlled etching, which demonstrates exceptional performance in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (ENRR) for ammonia production. The hybrid exhibits a high ammonia yield of 28.4 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 15.57% at -0.4 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄. The catalyst's performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of MXene/MAX heterostructure, abundant Sn vacancies, and highly dispersed Sn active sites, which enhance charge transfer and reduce adsorption energetics. The catalyst also shows excellent durability, maintaining high performance over 18 hours. A "NH₃ farm" was developed using this catalyst, powered by a commercial electrochemical photovoltaic cell, with air and ultrapure water as feedstocks. This system achieves an ammonia yield of 10.53 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹, demonstrating its potential for solar-driven ammonia synthesis from air and water. A systematic techno-economic analysis confirms the economic feasibility of this approach, with the minimum selling price of ammonia calculated at 7.18 kg⁻¹ under laboratory conditions. Further cost reductions, such as halving the cost of photovoltaic modules, lower the price to 1.87 kg⁻¹. The system is projected to be cost-effective and sustainable for large-scale ammonia production. The study highlights the importance of Sn vacancies and MXene/MAX heterostructures in enhancing ENRR performance. The catalyst's high efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness make it a promising candidate for green ammonia production. The integration of photovoltaic systems with electrochemical processes offers a sustainable and economical pathway for ammonia synthesis, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy utilization.This study presents a novel Sn-based MXene/MAX hybrid, Sn@Ti₂CTₓ/Ti₂SnC–V, synthesized through controlled etching, which demonstrates exceptional performance in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (ENRR) for ammonia production. The hybrid exhibits a high ammonia yield of 28.4 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ and a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 15.57% at -0.4 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄. The catalyst's performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of MXene/MAX heterostructure, abundant Sn vacancies, and highly dispersed Sn active sites, which enhance charge transfer and reduce adsorption energetics. The catalyst also shows excellent durability, maintaining high performance over 18 hours. A "NH₃ farm" was developed using this catalyst, powered by a commercial electrochemical photovoltaic cell, with air and ultrapure water as feedstocks. This system achieves an ammonia yield of 10.53 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹, demonstrating its potential for solar-driven ammonia synthesis from air and water. A systematic techno-economic analysis confirms the economic feasibility of this approach, with the minimum selling price of ammonia calculated at 7.18 kg⁻¹ under laboratory conditions. Further cost reductions, such as halving the cost of photovoltaic modules, lower the price to 1.87 kg⁻¹. The system is projected to be cost-effective and sustainable for large-scale ammonia production. The study highlights the importance of Sn vacancies and MXene/MAX heterostructures in enhancing ENRR performance. The catalyst's high efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness make it a promising candidate for green ammonia production. The integration of photovoltaic systems with electrochemical processes offers a sustainable and economical pathway for ammonia synthesis, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy utilization.
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Understanding Enhancing Green Ammonia Electrosynthesis Through Tuning Sn Vacancies in Sn-Based MXene%2FMAX Hybrids