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  • Modification of the Coordin...
    Han, Lili; Liu, Xijun; He, Jia; Liang, Zhixiu; Wang, Hsiao‐Tsu; Bak, Seong‐Min; Zhang, Jingmin; Hunt, Adrian; Waluyo, Iradwikanari; Pong, Way‐Faung; Luo, Jun; Ding, Yi; Adzic, Radoslav R.; Xin, Huolin L.

    Advanced energy materials, 06/2021, Letnik: 11, Številka: 24
    Journal Article

    Modulating the coordination environment of active sites on catalyst surfaces is crucial to developing effective catalysts and controlling catalysis. However, this may be a highly challenging procedure. Guided by the first‐principles calculations, the modification of the coordination environment of active sites on MoC nanoparticle surfaces is experimentally accomplished by anchoring pyridinic N atom rings of holey graphene on Mo atoms. The rings produce electrostatic forces that enable the tuning of the Mo sites′ affinity to reaction intermediates, which passivates Mo hollow sites, activates Mo top sites, and reduces the overadsorption of OH on the Mo active sites, as predicted by calculations. The atomic‐level modification is well confirmed by atomic‐resolution imaging, high‐resolution electron tomography, synchrotron soft X‐ray spectroscopy, and operando electrochemical infrared spectroscopy. Consequently, the Faradaic efficiency for CO2 reduction to CH4 is enhanced from 16% to 89%, a record high efficiency so far, in aqueous electrolytes. It also exhibits a negligible activity loss over 50 h. The coordination environment of active sites on the surfaces of MoC nanoparticles is modified by anchoring pyridinic N rings on Mo atoms adjacent to hollow sites, reducing the overadsorption of OH on the Mo active sites. The sites after modification exhibit high‐efficiency and durable performance for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CH4.