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3D-printed cobalt-rich tungsten carbide hierarchical electrode for efficient electrochemical ammonia production

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Abstract

The electrochemical approach for the feasible ammonia production via N2 fixation is well-thought-out to be an eco-friendly strategy to replace the polluting Haber Bosch process. However, the impeding activation barrier of strong N≡N and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction constrain the Faradaic efficiency of the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction. Therefore, the implication of innovative strategies for designing an active electrocatalyst remains a crucial criterion to deliver operational efficiencies during electrochemical reactions. This study proposes a unique fabrication of three-dimensional (3D)-architectured electrodes encompassed with cobalt-rich tungsten carbide (Co-WC) as an electrocatalyst using a 3D-printing technique for the efficient electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction. Here, the cobalt acts as a binder between tungsten carbide particles after sintering, and the particles are bonded to each other. The 3D-printing process generates 3D-architectured Co-WC electrodes with an average particle size of 1–3 µm through precise control of printing parameters. The electrochemical performance of the 3D-architectured Co-WC electrode reveals a better selectivity for N2 reduction under ambient condition. Substantially, the 3D-architectured Co-WC electrodes demonstrate an improved ammonia yield rate of 34.61 μg h−1 cm−2 and Faradaic efficiency of 2.12% at an applied potential − 0.6 V (vs. RHE). 3D-printing techniques can be an effective design method for manufacturing 3D-architectured active material with superior performance and selectivity.

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Funding

This work is supported by Creative Materials Discovery Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2016M3D1A1021141) and Chonnam National University (Grant Number: 2019-0217).

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Author notes

  1. Dong-Kyu Lee and Sung-Jun Wee have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Engineering Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea

    Dong-Kyu Lee, Sung-Jun Wee, Kyung-Jun Jang, Mi-Kyung Han, Subramani Surendran, Joon Young Kim & Uk Sim

  2. Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea

    Dong-Kyu Lee, Mi-Kyung Han, Subramani Surendran, Joon Young Kim & Uk Sim

  3. Future Energy Engineering Convergence, College of AI Convergence, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea

    Dong-Kyu Lee, Mi-Kyung Han, Subramani Surendran, Joon Young Kim & Uk Sim

  4. Research Institute, 3D Controls Co. Ltd., Suwon, South Korea

    Sung-Jun Wee, Kyung-Jun Jang & Sang-Kyu Lee

  5. Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea

    Sung Yong Cho

  6. Research Institute, Neel Sciences INC., Gwangju, 61186, South Korea

    Joon Young Kim & Uk Sim

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  1. Dong-Kyu Lee
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Lee, DK., Wee, SJ., Jang, KJ. et al. 3D-printed cobalt-rich tungsten carbide hierarchical electrode for efficient electrochemical ammonia production. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. 58, 679–687 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-021-00142-4

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