MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions presents a promising approach for the eco-friendly and sustainable synthesis of ammonia, with a continuous emergence of potential electrocatalysts. However, the low solubility and limited diffusion of N2 significantly hin...

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Main Authors: Tan Zhang, Qi Wang, Yuhan Sun, Jinping Li, Guang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-07-01
Series:Green Energy & Environment
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246802572500038X
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author Tan Zhang
Qi Wang
Yuhan Sun
Jinping Li
Guang Liu
author_facet Tan Zhang
Qi Wang
Yuhan Sun
Jinping Li
Guang Liu
author_sort Tan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions presents a promising approach for the eco-friendly and sustainable synthesis of ammonia, with a continuous emergence of potential electrocatalysts. However, the low solubility and limited diffusion of N2 significantly hinder the achievement of satisfactory performance. In this context, we report an effective strategy to enhance NRR activity by introducing a metal–organic framework (MOF) membrane, specifically MIL-53(Al), onto a perovskite oxide (LiNbO3), denoted as LN@MIL-X (X = 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6). The MIL-53(Al) membrane selectively recognizes and concentrates N2 at the catalyst interface while simultaneously repelling water molecules, thereby inhibiting the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This ultrathin nanostructure significantly improves the NRR performance of LN@MIL-X compared to pristine LiNbO3. Notably, LN@MIL-0.4 exhibits a maximum NH3 yield of 45.25 μg h−1 mgcat.−1 with an impressive Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 86.41% at −0.45 V versus RHE in 0.1 mol L−1 Na2SO4. This work provides a universal strategy for the design and synthesis of perovskite oxide electrocatalysts, facilitating high-efficiency ammonia synthesis.
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spelling doaj-art-73ac84ea673e41b39364f8798e1d746b2025-08-20T02:45:42ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Green Energy & Environment2468-02572025-07-011071543155010.1016/j.gee.2025.02.002MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxidesTan Zhang0Qi Wang1Yuhan Sun2Jinping Li3Guang Liu4College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Gas Energy Efficient and Clean Utilization, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China; Shanxi Research Institute of Huairou Laboratory, Taiyuan, 030031, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Gas Energy Efficient and Clean Utilization, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Gas Energy Efficient and Clean Utilization, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China; Shanxi Research Institute of Huairou Laboratory, Taiyuan, 030031, ChinaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Gas Energy Efficient and Clean Utilization, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China; Shanxi Research Institute of Huairou Laboratory, Taiyuan, 030031, China; Corresponding authors.College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Gas Energy Efficient and Clean Utilization, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China; Corresponding authors.The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under ambient conditions presents a promising approach for the eco-friendly and sustainable synthesis of ammonia, with a continuous emergence of potential electrocatalysts. However, the low solubility and limited diffusion of N2 significantly hinder the achievement of satisfactory performance. In this context, we report an effective strategy to enhance NRR activity by introducing a metal–organic framework (MOF) membrane, specifically MIL-53(Al), onto a perovskite oxide (LiNbO3), denoted as LN@MIL-X (X = 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6). The MIL-53(Al) membrane selectively recognizes and concentrates N2 at the catalyst interface while simultaneously repelling water molecules, thereby inhibiting the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This ultrathin nanostructure significantly improves the NRR performance of LN@MIL-X compared to pristine LiNbO3. Notably, LN@MIL-0.4 exhibits a maximum NH3 yield of 45.25 μg h−1 mgcat.−1 with an impressive Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 86.41% at −0.45 V versus RHE in 0.1 mol L−1 Na2SO4. This work provides a universal strategy for the design and synthesis of perovskite oxide electrocatalysts, facilitating high-efficiency ammonia synthesis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246802572500038XAmmonia synthesisNitrogen reduciton reactionMOF membranePerovskite oxideHydrophobic tunnel
spellingShingle Tan Zhang
Qi Wang
Yuhan Sun
Jinping Li
Guang Liu
MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
Green Energy & Environment
Ammonia synthesis
Nitrogen reduciton reaction
MOF membrane
Perovskite oxide
Hydrophobic tunnel
title MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
title_full MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
title_fullStr MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
title_full_unstemmed MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
title_short MOF membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
title_sort mof membrane boosts electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on perovskite oxides
topic Ammonia synthesis
Nitrogen reduciton reaction
MOF membrane
Perovskite oxide
Hydrophobic tunnel
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246802572500038X
work_keys_str_mv AT tanzhang mofmembraneboostselectrocatalyticnitrogenreductiononperovskiteoxides
AT qiwang mofmembraneboostselectrocatalyticnitrogenreductiononperovskiteoxides
AT yuhansun mofmembraneboostselectrocatalyticnitrogenreductiononperovskiteoxides
AT jinpingli mofmembraneboostselectrocatalyticnitrogenreductiononperovskiteoxides
AT guangliu mofmembraneboostselectrocatalyticnitrogenreductiononperovskiteoxides