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  • Nanoporous Gold Embedded ZI...
    Yang, Yijie; Wang, Shu‐Qi; Wen, Haoming; Ye, Tao; Chen, Jing; Li, Cheng‐Peng; Du, Miao

    Angewandte Chemie International Edition, October 21, 2019, Volume: 58, Issue: 43
    Journal Article

    The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers an energy‐saving and environmentally friendly approach to produce ammonia under ambient conditions. However, traditional catalysts have extremely poor NRR performances because of their low activity and the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. The high catalytic activity of nanoporous gold (NPG) and the hydrophobicity and molecular concentrating effect of the zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) were incorporated in the NPG@ZIF‐8 nanocomposite so that the ZIF‐8 shell could weaken hydrogen evolution and retard reactant diffusion. A highest Faradaic efficiency of 44 % and an excellent rate of ammonia production of (28.7±0.9) μg h−1 cm−2 were achieved, which are superior to traditional gold nanoparticles and NPG. Moreover, the composite catalyst shows high electrochemical stability and selectivity (98 %). The superior NRR performance makes NPG@ZIF‐8 one of the most promising water‐based NRR electrocatalysts for ammonia production. Being efficient: A core–shell structure composite of nanoporous gold embedded in a ZIF‐8 shell has been developed. The high catalytic activity of the nanoporous gold and the hydrophobic porous shell of ZIF‐8 results in a superior enhancement of electrochemical nitrogen fixation compared to traditional electrocatalysts, as shown by a Faradaic efficiency of 44 % (see picture, scale bar: 300 nm).