Development of ruthenium-copper nano-sponge electrodes for ambient electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia
AssigneeUniversity of Tennessee Research Foundation
InventorsFeng Yuan Zhang, Kui Li
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Abstract
A ruthenium-copper (RuCu) nano-sponge (NSP) electrocatalyst for use in the electrolytic reduction of nitrogen to provide ammonia is described. The RuCu NSP can be prepared as a porous nanoparticle comprising a RuCu alloy via facile reduction of Ru and Cu precursors under ambient conditions. Electrodes prepared with surface disposed RuCu NSPs can be used to prepare ammonia from nitrogen with good yields and Faradaic efficiency at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Claims25
A method of producing ammonia, the method comprising contacting nitrogen with a source of protons and a source of electrons in the presence of a catalyst comprising a ruthenium-copper (RuCu) nano-sponge (NSP), thereby reducing the nitrogen to produce ammonia.
A method of preparing a ruthenium-copper (RuCu) nano-sponge (NSP), the method comprising:
- (a) providing an aqueous solution comprising a ruthenium (Ru) precursor and a copper (Cu) precursor at a predetermined ratio, and
- (b) contacting the aqueous solution from (a) with an aqueous solution of a borohydride reducing agent, thereby preparing the RuCu NSP.
A composition comprising a ruthenium-copper (RuCu) nano-sponge (NSP), wherein the RuCu NSP comprises a porous nanoparticle comprising a RuCu alloy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.