Perspective on the interfacial engineering for electrocatalytic N2 to NH3 conversion from catalysts to systems

Abstract

Ammonia (NH₃) has received significant attention due to its increasing demand as a key commodity for industrial chemical production, a green fuel, and a hydrogen (H₂) carrier. Electrochemical nitrogen (N₂) reduction reaction (ENRR) emerges as the most attractive pathway to produce NH₃. The process utilizes H₂O as a proton source under mild temperature and pressure, which can reduce CO₂ emissions and energy input compared to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. However, ENRR is severely insufficient for practical applications due to its kinetically sluggish steps compared to its competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. Also, the imbalanced reactant concentrations of N₂ and H₂O, resulting from the low N₂ solubility, and oppositely, free H₂O accessibility toward catalysts, cause the ineffective three-phase-boundary that acts as active sites for ENRR. To overcome these challenges, it is essential to perform interfacial engineering for each part of the catalyst and reaction environment. In this perspective, recent advances in interfacial engineering are examined and critically reviewed, and further research directions are proposed to develop ENRR significantly. The sections cover catalytic active site modification, hydrophobic/hydrophilic control, electrolyte engineering, and system design. The insights and prospects in this perspective will be effective for developing ENRR in a scientific and practical manner.