Nitrogen electro-reduction reaction (NERR) is a promising alternative method for ammonia production to the Haber–Bosch approach due to mild reaction conditions and free harmful by-product emission. A formidable challenge in bringing NERR closer to the practical application is developing an electro-catalyst which can simultaneously improve the Faraday efficiency and reduce the reaction over-potential. Herein, we fabricated a catalyst of nitrogen-doped carbon dots modified copper-phosphate nanoflower petals (CuPo-NCDs NF) via a self-assembly method. The flower structure endowed the CuPo-NCDs NF with large specific surface area, and thus enabled more active sites to be exposed. In particular, we demonstrated that the NCDs modified CuPo petals with flower-like structure can accelerate the interfacial proton-electron transfer, suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction and promoting the desired NERR process. Ultimately, for the CuPo-NCDs NF catalyzed NERR, the FENH3 and the reaction potential both were boosted, the resultant energy efficiency of NERR reached a record-breaking value of 56.5%, and the NH3 yield rate increased by 7 times compared to NCDs. This study provides a novel catalyst with a new pathway to boost the NERR.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |