TY - JOUR
T1 - MXenes and their derivatives as nitrogen reduction reaction catalysts
T2 - recent progress and perspectives
AU - Amrillah, Tahta
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - MXenes have become one of the most actively studied emerging materials. They hold a great promise as efficient catalysts for chemical conversion and environmental purification, due to their unique layered structures, high specific surface areas, abundant active sites, and excellent chemical stability. Recent breakthroughs demonstrate MXenes and their derivatives in adsorbing, activating, and converting nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) via electrocatalytic and photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). The NRR is considered a green and environmentally friendly NH3 synthesis utilizing N2 and water molecules under mild conditions, unlike the current-day Haber-Bosch technology that directly uses fossil with intensive energy processes. However, the NH3 yield and efficiency of NRR using MXene-based catalysts remain too low to meet practical applications. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of NRR mechanisms and their significant challenges should be addressed for future development. In this review, we summarize a theoretical investigation of the promising properties of MXenes as NRR catalysts and discuss the recent development of MXenes and their derivatives in NRR and their enhancement strategies. The synthesis protocols to obtain tunable morphology, nanocomposite-based, and derivatives of MXenes are also presented. Furthermore, this review will provide new perspectives on future research to realize clean and sustainable NH3 production.
AB - MXenes have become one of the most actively studied emerging materials. They hold a great promise as efficient catalysts for chemical conversion and environmental purification, due to their unique layered structures, high specific surface areas, abundant active sites, and excellent chemical stability. Recent breakthroughs demonstrate MXenes and their derivatives in adsorbing, activating, and converting nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) via electrocatalytic and photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). The NRR is considered a green and environmentally friendly NH3 synthesis utilizing N2 and water molecules under mild conditions, unlike the current-day Haber-Bosch technology that directly uses fossil with intensive energy processes. However, the NH3 yield and efficiency of NRR using MXene-based catalysts remain too low to meet practical applications. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of NRR mechanisms and their significant challenges should be addressed for future development. In this review, we summarize a theoretical investigation of the promising properties of MXenes as NRR catalysts and discuss the recent development of MXenes and their derivatives in NRR and their enhancement strategies. The synthesis protocols to obtain tunable morphology, nanocomposite-based, and derivatives of MXenes are also presented. Furthermore, this review will provide new perspectives on future research to realize clean and sustainable NH3 production.
KW - 2D materials
KW - Ammonia
KW - Electrocatalysts
KW - MXenes
KW - Nitrogen reduction reactions
KW - Photocatalysts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122676516&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100864
DO - 10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100864
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85122676516
SN - 2468-6069
VL - 22
JO - Materials Today Energy
JF - Materials Today Energy
M1 - 100864
ER -