Artificial N₂ fixation to NH₃ by electrocatalytic Ru NPs at low overpotential

Ammonia synthesis, one of the most challenging chemical synthesis processes, plays a vital role in the development of human industry and agriculture. Compared with the industrial Harber-Bosch ammonia process with huge energy input and high CO2 emissions, the search for a resource-saving, environmentally-friendly ammonia synthesis alternative is extremely urgent. Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction appears to be a good candidate. In this communication, we report the development of ruthenium nanoparticles as a highly efficient and durable nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) electrocatalyst in acidic electrolyte under ambient conditions. Such electrochemical NRR catalyst exhibits a large NH3 formation rate (24.88 mu g h(-1) mg(cat.)(-1)) with Faradaic efficiency (0.35%) at -0.15 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, outperforming many reported NRR electrocatalysts. Note that it exhibits high durability and stability during the entire electrochemical NRR process.