Fe, Mo–N/C Hollow Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanorods as an Effective Electrocatalyst for N2 Reduction Reaction

The development of highly active, non-noble metal-based materials for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under environmental conditions is still a challenge. Herein, we have designed novel Fe, Mo–N/C hollow porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanorods as an effective catalyst for N 2 fixation by means of the pyrolysis–acid etching process. A high ammonia (NH 3 ) formation rate (1.52 × 10 –6 mol h –1 cm –2 ) and Faradaic efficiency (FE, 14.2%) at −0.1 V versus RHE are obtained for NRR in 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 solution. Fe–N χ and Mo–N χ units simultaneously serve as catalytic sites for promoting ammonia synthesis, and the concentration of pyridinic N is also essential for the enhanced ammonia production and FE. Therefore, this study accomplishes superior electrocatalytic performance of the Fe, Mo–N/C hollow nanorods toward NRR in ammonia synthesis application.