Cu-Bi Bimetallic Sulfides Loaded on Two-Dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene for Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction under Ambient Conditions.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, Ti3C2Tx MXene/Cu-Bi bimetallic sulfide (Ti3C2Tx/BiCuS2.5) composites were prepared by a simple in situ deposition method for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR). Compared to Ti3C2Tx/Bi2S3 and Ti3C2Tx/CuS, the eNRR performance of Ti3C2Tx/BiCuS2.5 is significantly improved. The results show that Ti3C2Tx/BiCuS2.5 exhibits a NH3 yield of 62.57 µg h-1 mg-1cat. in 0.1 M Na2SO4 at -0.6 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, and the Faradaic efficiency (FE) reaches 67.69%, which is better than that of Ti3C2Tx/CuS (NH3 yield 52.26 µg h-1 mg-1cat., FE 34.15%) and Ti3C2Tx/Bi2S3 (NH3 yield 54.04 µg h-1 mg-1cat., FE 37.38%). According to density functional theory calculations, the eNRR at the Ti3C2Tx/BiCuS2.5 surface is the alternating pathway. The 1H NMR experiment of 15N proves that the N of NH3 generated in the experiment originates from N2 passed during the experiment.