Laser Irradiation in Liquid to Release Cobalt Single-Atom Sites for Efficient Electrocatalytic N<sub>2</sub> Reduction
Shengbo Zhang, Quan Jiang, Tongfei Shi, Qiao Sun, Yixing Ye, Yue Lin, Lirong Zheng, Guozhong Wang, Changhao Liang, Haimin Zhang, Huijun Zhao
Abstract
We synthesize Co single atoms anchored on N-doped carbon (Co-SAs/NC) by carbonizing a mixture of cobalt acetate, tartaric acid, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The Co-SAs/NC exhibits nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) activity, affording an NH3 yield rate of 9.7 μg h–1 mgcat.–1 with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 7.5% at −0.45 V (vs RHE) in 0.005 M H2SO4. After laser-irradiation treatment, the Co-SAs/NC indicates an enhanced NH3 yield rate (16.9 μg h–1 mgcat.–1) and FE (18.8%) at −0.25 V (vs RHE) in 0.005 M H2SO4. The improved NRR activity is due to more exposed Co-N3 sites on Co-SAs/NC after the laser-irradiation treatment.