Synergistic N/F Dual-Doped MoC/C Catalyst Synthesized via Liquid Phase Plasma for Sustainable Ammonia Production.

NH is a versatile solution for the storage and distribution of sustainable energy, offering high energy density and promising applications as a renewable hydrogen carrier. However, electrochemical NH synthesis under ambient conditions remains challenging, such as low selectivity and efficiency, owing to the inertness of N≡N and competing reactions. In this study, a catalyst (MoC/NFC) comprising molybdenum carbide evenly dispersed on carbon doped with N and F heteroatoms was successfully synthesized using liquid-phase plasma. The MoC/NFC catalyst exhibited a maximum NH yield of 115 μg h mg with a faradaic efficiency of 1.15% at -0.7 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. Pyridinic- and pyrrolic-N atoms adjacent to the carbon pores served as active sites for N adsorption and enabled N triple bond cleavage. In addition, F doping contributed to N activation owing to the high electronegativity of 3.98, resulting in the attraction of more electrons. These findings demonstrate a significant advancement in the development of efficient catalysts for electrochemical ammonia synthesis, potentially paving the way for scalable and sustainable NH production methods that can support the growing demand for renewable energy storage solutions.