Electrocatalytic N2 reduction to NH3 with high Faradaic efficiency enabled by vanadium phosphide nanoparticle on V foil

To develop highly efficient electrochemical catalysts for N 2 fixation is important to sustainable ambient NH 3 production through the N 2 reduction reaction (NRR). Herein, we demonstrate the development of vanadium phosphide nanoparticle on V foil as a high-efficiency and stable catalyst for ambient NH 3 production with excellent selectivity. The high Faradaic efficiency of 22% with a large NH 3 yield of 8.35 × 10 −11 mol·s −1 ·cm −2 was obtained at 0 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode in acid solution, superior to all previously studied V-based NRR catalysts. Density functional theory calculations are also utilized to have an insight into the catalytic mechanism.