Enabling the electrocatalytic fixation of N 2 to NH 3 by C-doped TiO 2 nanoparticles under ambient conditions.

The conventional Haber-Bosch process for industrial NH 3 production from N 2 and H 2 is highly energy-intensive with a large amount of CO 2 emissions and finding a more suitable method for NH 3 synthesis under mild conditions is a very attractive topic. The electrocatalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) offers us an environmentally benign and sustainable route. In this communication, we report that C-doped TiO 2 nanoparticles act as an efficient electrocatalyst for the NRR with excellent selectivity. In 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 , it achieves an NH 3 yield of 16.22 μg h -1 mg cat. -1 and a faradaic efficiency of 1.84% at -0.7 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode. Furthermore, this catalyst also shows good stability during electrolysis and recycling tests.