• 文献标题:   Non-Transition-Metal Catalytic System for N-2 Reduction to NH3: A Density Functional Theory Study of Al-Doped Graphene
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   TIAN YH, HU SL, SHENG XL, DUAN YX, JAKOWSKI J, SUMPTER BG, HUANG JS
  • 作者关键词:  
  • 出版物名称:   JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
  • ISSN:   1948-7185
  • 通讯作者地址:   Sichuan Univ
  • 被引频次:   8
  • DOI:   10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b03094
  • 出版年:   2018

▎ 摘  要

The prevalent catalysts for natural and artificial N-2 fixation are known to hinge upon transition-metal (TM) elements. Herein, we demonstrate by density functional theory that Al-doped graphene is a potential non-TM catalyst to convert N-2 to NH3 in the presence of relatively mild proton/electron sources. In the integrated structure of the catalyst, the Al atom serves as a binding site and catalytic center while the graphene framework serves as an electron buffer during the successive proton/electron additions to N-2 and its various downstream NxHy intermediates. The initial hydrogenation of N-2 can readily take place via an internal H-transfer process with the assistance of a Li+ ion as an additive. In view of the recurrence of H transfer in the first step of N-2 reduction observed in biological nitrogenases and other synthetic catalysts, this finding highlights the significance of heteroatom-assisted H transfer in the design of synthetic catalysts for N-2 fixation.