Microtubular Gas Diffusion Electrode Based on Ruthenium‐Carbon Nanotubes for Ambient Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia
Xin Wei, Dominik A. M. Vogel, Laura Keller, Stefanie Kriescher, Matthias Weßling
Abstract
Abstract The drawback of the energy‐intensive Haber‐Bosch process promotes the research and development of alternative ammonia (NH 3 ) synthesis approaches. The electrochemical nitrogen (N 2 ) reduction reaction (eNRR) may offer a promising method to produce NH 3 independent of fossil‐fuel‐based hydrogen production. However, the low solubility and the low‐efficiency mass transport of N 2 in aqueous electrolytes are still among the challenges facing the feasibility of eNRR. Herein, we demonstrate a microtubular ruthenium‐carbon nanotube gas diffusion electrode (Ru−CNT GDE), for the first time, applying it to electrochemical NH 3 synthesis in an H‐type cell under ambient conditions. The highest reported Ru‐catalyzed NH 3 yield rate of 2.1×10 −9 mol/cm 2 s and high faradaic efficiency of 13.5 % were achieved, showing the superior effect of Ru−CNT GDEs on the eNRR performance. This work provides a new approach for the design and fabrication of self‐standing catalyst‐loaded GDEs for eNRR.