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The decoupled synthesis of Fe-NC single-site electrocatalysts mediated by Lewis acids enables high active site density and utilization. However, current approaches often rely on small organic molecules and suffer from low synthesis yields due to the high Lewis acid-to-precursor ratios required to achieve highly porous carbons. Here, a porous organic polymer (POP) based on 2,4,6-Triaminopyrimidine (TAP) is utilized as a carbon-nitrogen-based scaffold for the synthesis of Fe─NC electrocatalysts. By tuning the amounts of MgCl2 ·6H2O used both as porogen and active site templating agent, synthetic yields exceeding 45% are achieved, a significant improvement compared to the 6% yield from the molecular analogue and the highest reported forMg2+ templated systems. Subsequent low-temperature exchange with Fe leads to atomically dispersed FeNx, minimizing Fe aggregation. The resulting materials exhibit high specific surface areas (>1000 m2 g−1) with micro-, meso-, and macropores, which promote mass transport and active site accessibility. Compared to Fe─NC synthesized via direct pyrolysis of Fe-coordinated POP, the decoupled method enables significantly higher catalytic activity in both alkaline and acidic media, and delivers 1 A cm−2 at 0.687 ± 0.004 VRHE in an alkaline gas diffusion electrode, highlighting its potential for practical oxygen reduction devices.
This cover illustrates the electrosynthesis of ammonia through the reduction of nitrate ions on metallic clusters formed from single atom catalysts. The artwork highlights the catalytic interface where molecular transformations occur, linking nanoscale reactions to sustainable fertilizer production. By converting pollutants into value-added products, this work envisions a green pathway toward circular nitrogen management and enhanced agricultural sustainability. More details can be found in the Research Article (DOI: 10.1002/advs.202510282) by Maria-Magdalena Titirici, Raphael Nagao, and co-workers.
The zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) is a crystalline porous material that has been widely employed as template to fabricate porous nitrogen-doped carbons with high microporosity via thermal treatment at high temperatures. The properties of the carbon scaffold are influenced by the pore structure and chemical composition of the parent ZIF. However, the narrow pore size distribution and microporous nature from ZIF-8 often results in low mesopore volume, which is crucial for applications such as energy storage and conversion. Here we show that insertion of N-heterocyclic amines can disrupt the structure of ZIF-8 and dramatically impact the chemical composition and pore structure of the nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks obtained after high-temperature pyrolysis. Melamine and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine were chosen to modify the ZIF-8 structure owing to their capability to both coordinate metal ions and establish supramolecular interactions. Employing a wide variety of physical characterization techniques we observed that melamine results in the formation of a mixed-phase material comprising ZIF-8, Zn(Ac)6(Mel)2 and crystallized melamine, while 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine induces the formation of defects, altering the pore structure. Furthermore, the absence of heterocyclic amine in the ZIF-8 synthesis leads to a new crystalline phase, unreported to date. The thermal conversion of the modified ZIFs at 1000 °C leads to nitrogen-doped carbons bearing Zn moieties with increased surface area, mesopore volume and varying degree of defects compared to ZIF-8 derived carbon. This work therefore highlights both the versatility of heterocyclic amines to modify the structure of framework materials as well as their role in tuning pore structure in nitrogen-doped carbons, paving the way to targeted design of high-performance electrodes for energy storage and conversion.
Single‐Atom Catalysts (SAC) have emerged as a promising class of materials for various catalytic applications, including the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR) and consequently ammonia production. While the efficiency and selectivity of these materials have been extensively highlighted for the eNO3RR, the in situ evolution to their structure and composition during electrocatalysis is largely unexplored and lacks catalyst design principles. To solve this, we investigated a series of high utilization metal‐nitrogen‐carbon (MNC) SACs (M = Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) for eNO3RR. Except for CuNC, which selectively produced nitrite, all catalysts exhibited Faradaic efficiencies (FE) for ammonia exceeding 50%. NiNC demonstrated the highest performance (FE of 78.0 ± 2.9% at −0.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at pH 13 and maximum ammonia production rate of 615.7 ± 176.5 µmol·h−1·, corresponding to an energy efficiency of 15.1 ± 1.4% at −0.6 VRHE), followed by CoNC. In situ Synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence (SXRF) mapping at various cathodic potentials (from open circuit potential to 0.0 VRHE and then −0.6 VRHE at 100 mV steps) revealed significant mobility of Ni within the carbon matrix, leading to the formation of metallic clusters from 0.0 VRHE. Similar in situ metal clustering is observed for CoNC. Structure‐activity plots are generated from both MNC literature and results obtained here, finding a clear trend between OH binding energy and turnover frequency, with the high activity of NiNC and CoNC in this work explained by their stronger OH binding in the metallic structure compared to their SAC coordination. This work therefore, reveals the structure‐activity‐stability of MNCs for eNO3RR and provides a simple descriptor for identifying highly active eNO3RR catalysts and their in situ structural evolution.
Atomically dispersed Fe in N-doped carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts are leading platinum-group-metal-free candidates for the O2 reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) derived Fe-N-C present the most promising performance; however, they possess a narrow distribution of small micropores, which limits active site accessibility. Here, to induce hierarchical porosity in Fe-N-C, we report a systematic study on MgCl₂·6H₂O-templated ZIF-8-derived Fe-N-C catalysts for the O2 reduction reaction. MgCl₂·6H₂O addition induced complete Zn removal, collapse of the ZIF-8 framework, and formation of large micro- and mesopores, with graphene-like structures. N content was markedly reduced, with conversion from pyridinic to pyrrolic N species. Rotating disc electrode tests showed a progressive increase in O2 reduction activity with MgCl₂·6H₂O, which is strongly correlated (R2 = 0.98) to the formation of large micropores and small mesopores (1-4 nm). This introduces a clear structure-activity design principle for Fe-N-Cs. The enhanced Fe-N-C porosity also leads to increased degradation rates under accelerated stress test conditions, which we attributed to the oxidation of disordered carbon domains and active Fe loss. This study highlights a key trade-off between porosity-driven O2 reduction activity and durability in Fe-N-C catalysts.
To alleviate CO2 emissions impact on climate change, and close the carbon cycle, converting carbon dioxide into valuable products such as multi-carbon organic chemicals is of great importance. Each approach offers distinct merits but also certain challenges in terms of process efficiency, product selectivity and implementation at scale. Developing coupled CO2 conversion systems, for instance bio-electrochemical reactors, can address some of the challenges.[1] Precious-metal free biocompatible single atoms in N-doped C (M-N-C, where M = Fe, Ni, Co) electrocatalysts, based on Mg active site imprinting of bioinspired MN4 sites,[2][3] have shown state-of-the-art activity and selectivity for conversion of CO2 to CO.[4] Pyrolysis of Mg-N-C is carried out in a salt-melt at high temperatures (≥ 800 oC) and followed by an exchange with stoichiometric amounts of Ni or Co at low temperatures. N2-sorption of the materials reveal a micro-mesoporous structure with high surface areas (> 1000 m2 g-1) and a mass-transport enabling pore system. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure reveal the existence of atomically dispersed single atom active sites with defined active site structure. These catalysts were implemented in a home-made bio-electrocatalytic system (BES) consisting of a bioreactor coupled to a CO2 electrolysis cell.[5] Here, CO2 is first electrochemically converted to CO in the electrolysis cell which is then directly fed to bacteria (Clostridium ragsdalei) in the bioreactor which further metabolize it to valuable carbon compounds, such as acetate. An acetate formation rate of 1.8 mg L-1 h-1 was achieved and an acetate concentration of 0.103 g L-1, corresponding to acetate formation rate of 0.73 mmol d-1. We have successfully demonstrated the validity of a coupled bio-electrocatalytic system operating with resource efficient single atom Co- and Ni-N-C electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion.