Can Li atoms anchored on boron- and nitrogen-doped graphene catalyze dinitrogen molecules to ammonia? a DFT study
Title | Can Li atoms anchored on boron- and nitrogen-doped graphene catalyze dinitrogen molecules to ammonia? a DFT study |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2023 |
Authors | Verma, TSingh, Samal, PParamita, Selvaraj, K, Krishnamurty, S |
Journal | ChemPhysChem |
Volume | 24 |
Issue | 12 |
Date Published | JUN |
Type of Article | Article |
ISSN | 1439-4235 |
Keywords | computational chemistry, Graphene Sheet, heterogeneous catalysis, Li Nanoparticles, Nitrogen Reduction Reaction |
Abstract | The most successful electrochemical conversion of ammonia from dinitrogen molecule reported to date is through a Li mediated mechanism. In the framework of the above fact and that Li anchored graphene is an experimentally feasible system, the present work is a computational experiment to identify the potential of Li anchored graphene as a catalyst for N-2 to NH3 conversion as a function of (a) minimum number of Li atoms needed for anchoring on graphene sheets and (b) the role of chemical modification of graphene surfaces. The studies bring forth an understanding that Li anchored graphene sheets are potential catalysts for ammonia conversion with preferential adsorption of N-2 through end-on configuration on Li atoms anchored on doped and pristine graphene surfaces. This mode of adsorption being characteristic of Nitrogen Reduction Reaction (NRR) through enzymatic pathway, examination of the same followed by analysis of electronic properties demonstrates that tri-Li atoms (Tri Atom Catalysts, TACs) are more efficient as catalysts for NRR as compared to two Li atoms (Di Atom Catalysts, DACs). Either way, the rate determining step was found to be *NH2 ->*NH3 step (mixed pathway) with Delta G(max)=1.02 eV and *NH2-*NH3 ->*NH2 step (enzymatic pathway) with Delta G(max)=1.11 eV for 1B doped TAC and DAC on graphene sheet, respectively. Consequently, this work identifies the viability of Li anchored graphene based 2-D sheets as hetero-atom catalyst for NRR. |
DOI | 10.1002/cphc.202200750 |
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign) | Foreign |
Impact Factor (IF) | 3.520 |
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