Scalable ammonia synthesis on the modified crystal structure of Cu3PS4 electrocatalyst

Ammonia production, which is vital for agricultural and industrial applications, typically relies on energy-intensive processes that contribute to global CO₂ emissions. Electrochemical nitrogen reduction is a promising alternative, although it faces challenges such as low yield and selectivity. Transition-metal-based catalysts, particularly Cu, are promising for overcoming these limitations. Cu₃PS₄ catalysts were synthesized and evaluated using a 9 cm²-scale electrode, revealing enhanced performance attributed to change in the crystal and electronic structure of Cu, facilitating N₂ adsorption and improving the reaction activity. Notably, the ammonia synthesis rate reached 128 μg h^-1 mg_cat^-1 at -1.0 V vs. RHE and faradaic efficiency was 34% at -0.8 V vs. RHE. These findings provide potential insights into the improvement of practical electrochemical synthesis of ammonia.