Screening Highly Effective Electrocatalyst for N2 Reduction on Anatase TiO2(101) Surface: By Tuning Electronic and Geometry Features

TL;DR

This study computationally investigates how electronic and geometric tuning of TiO2(101) surfaces can enhance N2 activation for electrochemical ammonia synthesis, predicting a highly effective electrocatalyst.

Contribution

It identifies key factors influencing N2 activation on TiO2 surfaces and predicts a promising electrocatalyst for NRR.

Findings

Electronic and geometric modifications improve N2 activation.

A specific TiO2-based electrocatalyst is predicted to be highly effective.

Insights into structure-electronic property relationships for NRR catalysis.

Abstract

Industrial scale NH3 production is mainly produced by the Haber Bosch process, but it suffers from intensive energy consumption with serious CO2 emission. Electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is now used for energy-saving NH3 synthesis, which needs highly efficient electrocatalysts for N2 activation. In this work, we have computationally studied what are main factors for affecting N2 molecule activation and NRR process on VO2c decorated TiO2 (101) surface by changing its structures or electronic features. Furthermore, a promising NRR electrocatalyst is successfully predicted.