Monodisperse Cu Cluster-Loaded Defective ZrO Nanofibers for Ambient N Fixation to NH.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia has attracted increasing attention as it is more energy-saving and eco-friendly. For this endeavor, the development of high-efficiency electrocatalysts with excellent selectivity and stability is indispensable to break up the stable covalent triple bond in nitrogen. In this study, we report monodisperse Cu clusters loaded on defective ZrO nanofibers for nitrogen reduction under mild conditions. Such an electrocatalyst achieves an NH yield rate of 12.13 μg h mg and an optimal Faradaic efficiency of 13.4% at -0.6 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M NaSO. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the N molecule was reduced to NH at the Cu active site with an ideal overpotential. Meanwhile, the interaction between bonding and antibonding of the Cu-N bond promotes activation of N and maintains a low desorption barrier.