Turning the V site in V@2D-BC_(3)N_(2)complex to high curvature state for efficient CO_(2)electroreduction to hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are promising products for CO_(2)electroreduction(CRR)while is impeded by the low selectivity.Turning the curvature of the active site is an effective strategy to change the adsorption properties and further regulate the product distribution and reactivity.Herein,we have designed a novel V single atom catalyst(SAC)based on rolled two-dimensional(2D)BC_(3)N_(2)substrate with different curvatures.The results have demonstrated that increased curvature can enhance the adsorption strength of CRR intermediates,which follows different mechanisms for systems with low and high curvature.This character eventually leads to the deviation away from the scaling line between Ead[CO]∼Ead[COOH]based on transition metals for V@2D-BC_(3)N_(2)systems.3-3 system is screened as the optimal candidate for hydrocarbons production due to the enhanced binding ability of adsorbates,which can increase the reactivity for hydrocarbons production and hinder the production of H2 and HCOOH simultaneously.

A review on hydrogen production from ammonia borane:Experimental and theoretical studies

Ammonia borane(NHsBH3,AB)is an ideal raw material of hydrogen production with higher hydrogen storage capacity.In this paper,the catalytic processes of AB dehydrogenation were described from different ways,including thermal dehydrogenation,hydrolysis,methanolysis,photocatalysis and photopiezoelectric synergy catalysis with experimental research and theoretical calculations.Catalyst models include bulk materials,two-dimensional materials,nanocluster particles and single/diatomic structures.Among them,the proportion of H2 released is different,and the reaction conditions are also different,which are suitable for different application scenarios.Through this review,we could have a preliminary comprehensive understanding of AB dehydrogenation reaction.

Highly active Fe_(36)Co_(44) bimetallic nanoclusters catalysts for hydrolysis of ammonia borane: The first-principles study

In this paper,Fe_(36)Co_(44)nanocluster structure is used to catalyze the hydrolysis reaction of ammonia borane to produce H_(2).Firstly,we complete the construction of Fe_(36)Co_(44)cluster structure and calculate the electronic properties of the cluster.By comparing the adsorption process of Ammonia Borane (AB) in active sites of the cluster,which have different Effective Coordination Number (ECN),the qualitative relationship between ECN and the catalytic activation of AB is clarified,and the optimal catalytic active site is obtained.Then,from the perspective of different reaction paths,we study the hydrolysis reaction of AB in multiple paths,and obtain 5 different reaction paths and energy profiles.The calculation results show that in the case of N–H bond priority break (path 5),the reaction has the minimum rate-determining step (RDS) barrier (about 1.02 e V) and the entire reaction is exothermic (about 0.40 e V).So,path 5 is an optimal catalytic reaction path.This study will have an important guiding significance for the study of the AB hydrolysis reaction mechanism.

Computational design of BC_(3)N_(2) based single atom catalyst for dramatic activation of inert CO_(2) and CH4 gasses into CH_(3)COOH with ultralow CH_(4) dissociation barrier

The production of CH_(3)COOH from CO_(2)and CH_(4) has stimulated much interest due to the high energy density of C2 species.Various kinds of catalysts have been developed while the high dissociation barrier of CH_(4) and low selectivity still hinders the efficiency of the reaction.We have herein proposed a novel catalyst with single metals loaded on 2D BC_(3)N_(2) substrate(M@2D-BC_(3)N_(2))based on density functional theory.Among numerous candidates,Pt@2D-BC_(3)N_(2) possesses the most favorable reactivity with an ultralow barrier of CH_(4) splitting(0.26 e V),which is due to the efficient capture ability of CH_(4) on Pt site.Besides,the selectivity for CH_(3)COOH is also very high,which mainly stems from the unique electronic properties of molecules and substrate:The degenerated states,including s,px,pyand pz,in CO_(2)reflects the existence of delocalizedπbonds between C and O.This can interact with states of Pt(s),Pt(pz),Pt(dxz),Pt(dyz),and Pt(z2)in Pt@2D-BC_(3)N_(2).The kinetics model also proves that our system can promote CH_(3)COOH production via simply increasing the temperature or the coverage of CH_(4) and CO_(2).Our results provide a reasonable illustration in clarifying mechanism and propose promising candidates with high reactivity for further study.

Capture and separation of CO_(2)on BC_(3)nanosheets:A DFT study

In order to reduce the greenhouse effect caused by the rapid increase of CO_(2)concentration in the atmosphere,it is necessary to develop more efficient,controllable,and highly sensitive adsorbing materials.In this study,the adsorption behavior of CO_(2)on BC_(3)nanosheets under an external electric field was explored based on density functional theory(DFT).It was found that CO_(2)experienced a transition from physisorption to chemisorption in the electric field range of 0.0060-0.0065 a.u..In addition,the adsorption/desorption of CO_(2)is reversible and can be precisely controlled by switching on/off at the electric field of 0.0065 a.u..The selective adsorption of CO_(2)/H_(2)/CH_(4)by BC_(3)can also be used to realize gas separation and purification under different electric fields.This study highlighted the potential application of BC_(3)nanosheets as a high-performance,controllable material for CO_(2)capture,regeneration,and separation in an electric field.

Defect engineering for high-selection-performance of NO reduction to NH3 over CeO_(2)(111)surface:A DFT study

To reduce the greenhouse effect caused by the surgery of nitrogen-oxides concentration in the atmosphere and develop a future energy carrier of renewables,it is very critical to develop more efficient,controllable,and highly sensitive catalytic materials.In our work,we proposed that nitric oxide(NO),as a supplement to N_(2) for the synthesis of ammonia,which is equipped with a lower barrier.And the study highlighted the potential of CeO_(2)(111)nanosheets with La doping and oxygen vacancy(OV)as a high-performance,controllable material for NO capture at the site of Vo site,and separation the process of hydrogenation.We also reported that the E_(ads) of-1.12 eV with horizontal adsorption and the Bader charge of N increasing of 0.53|e|and O increasing of 0.17|e|at the most active site of reduction-OV predicted.It is worth noting thatΔG of NORR(NO reduction reaction)shows good performance(thermodynamically spontaneous reaction)to synthesize ammonia and water at room temperature in the theoretical calculation.

Prediction of stable BC_(3)N_(2)monolayer from first-principles calculations:Stoichiometry,crystal structure,electronic and adsorption properties

In this paper,a novel BC_(3)N_(2)monolayer has been found with a graphene-like structure using the developed particle swarm optimization algorithm in combination with ab initio calculations.The predicted structure meets the thermodynamical,dynamical,and mechanical stability requirements.Interestingly,the BC_(3)N_(2)plane shows a metallic character.Importantly,BC_(3)N_(2)has an in-plane stiffness comparable to that of graphene.We have also investigated the adsorption characteristics of CO_(2)on pristine monolayer and Mo functionalized monolayer using density functional theory.Subsequently,electronic structures of the interacting systems(CO_(2)molecule and substrates)have been preliminarily explored.The results show that Mo/BC_(3)N_(2)has a stronger adsorption capacity towards CO_(2)comparing with the pristine one,which can provide a reference for the further study of the CO_(2)reduction mechanism on the transition metal-functionalized surface as well as the new catalyst’s design.

Associative vs. dissociative mechanism: Electrocatalysis of nitric oxide to ammonia

Nitric oxide reduction to ammonia by electrocatalysis is the potential application in the elimination of smog and energy conversion. In this work, the feasibility of the application of two-dimensional metal borides(MBenes) in nitric oxide electroreduction reaction(NOER) was investigated through density functional theory calculations. Including the geometry and electronic structure of five kinds of MBenes, the adsorption of NO on the surface of these substrates, the selective adsorption of hydrogen protons during the hydrogenation process, and the overpotential in the electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis process. As a result, Mn B exhibited the most favorable catalytic performance according to the associative pathways,which is thermodynamically performed spontaneously, and WB has a minimum overpotential of 0.37 V vs. RHE in the process of ammonia production according to the dissociative pathway. Overall, our work is the first to explore the electrocatalytic NO through the dissociative mechanism to synthesize ammonia in-depth and proves that MBenes are efficient NO electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis catalysts. These research results provide a new direction for the development of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis experimentally and theoretically.

Rich B active centers in Penta-B_(2)C as high-performance photocatalyst for nitrogen reduction

The photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR) has mild reaction conditions and only requires sunlight energy as a driving force to replace the traditional ammonia synthesis method. We herein investigate the catalytic activity and selectivity on Penta-B_(2)C for NRR by using density functional theory calculations. Penta-B_(2)C is a semiconductor with an indirect bandgap(2.328 e V) and is kinetically stable based on molecular dynamic simulations. The optical absorption spectrum of Penta-B;C is achieved in the ultraviolet and visible range. Effective light absorption is more conducive to generate photo-excited electrons and improving photocatalytic performances. Rich B atoms as activation sites in Penta-B_(2)C facilitate capturing N_(2). The activated N_(2)molecule prefers the side-on adsorption configuration on Penta-B_(2)C, which facilitates the subsequent reduction reaction. Among considered NRR mechanisms on Penta-B_(2)C, the best pathway prefers the enzymatic mechanism, only required a low onset potential of 0.23 V. The hydrogen evolution reaction is inhibited when the hydrogen adsorption concentration is increased or N_(2)molecules first occupy the adsorption sites. Our results indicate Penta-B_(2)C is a highly reactive and selective photocatalyst for NRR. Our work provides theoretical insights into the experiments and has guiding significance to synthesize efficient NRR photocatalysts.

First-principles study on Fe_(2)B_(2)as efficient catalyst for nitrogen reduction reaction

[18_(T)D$IF]Ammonia(NH_(3))is considered an attractive candidate as a clean,highly efficient energy carrier.The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)can reduce energy input and carbon footprint;therefore,rational design of effective electrocatalysts is essential for achieving high-efficiency electrocatalytic NH_(3)synthesis.Herein,we report that the enzymatic mechanism is the more favourable pathway for NRR,due to lower limiting potential(-0.44 V),lower free energy(only 0.02 eV)of the first hydrogenation step(*N–N to*NH–N),and more electron transfer from Fe_(2)B_(2)to the reaction species.In addition,both vacancies and dopants can be helpful in reducing the reaction energy barrier of the potential-determining step.Therefore,we have demonstrated that Fe_(2)B_(2)is a potential new candidate for effective NRR and highlighted its potential for applications in electrocatalytic NH_(3)synthesis.

Principles for designing CO_(2) adsorption catalyst: Serving thermal conductivity as the determinant for reactivity

CO_(2)is a representative prototype model in energy and environmental fields.Many factors for CO_(2)capture and activation have been investigated extensively but the research on the influence of thermal conductivity is still absence.We herein have calculated many properties,including dipole moment,electric structure,and adsorption energies,on Pt doped graphene and 2D BC_(3)N_(2)substrates and served the thermal conductivity as the bridge.Our results have demonstrated that the lower (higher) thermal conductivity for 2D BC_(3)N_(2)(graphene) corresponds to larger (lower) dipole moment,which is beneficial for CO_(2)activation (capture) process.Our research have not only revealed the dominant role of heat conductivity for CO_(2)capture and activation,but also paved the way for further catalyst design of various areas.

Hydrogen generation of ammonia borane hydrolysis catalyzed by Fe_(22)@Co_(58) core-shell structure

In this paper,the process of ammonia borane(AB)hydrolysis generate H_(2) on the transition metal Fe@Co core-shell structure has been obtained.According to the different roles played by H_(2)O molecules and the number of H_(2)O molecules involved,there are three schemes of reaction paths.RouteⅠdoes not involve the dissociation of H_(2)O molecules and all H atoms come from AB.Moreover,the H_(2)O molecule has no effect on the breaking of the B—H bond or the N—H bond.The reaction absorbs more heat during the formation of the second and third H_(2) molecules.RouteⅡincludes the dissociation of H_(2)O molecules and the cleavage of B—H or N—H bonds,respectively,and the reaction shows a slight exotherm.RouteⅢstarted from the break of the B—N bond and obtained 3H_(2) molecules through the participation of different numbers of H_(2)O molecules.After multiple comparative analyses,the optimal hydrolysis reaction path has been obtained,and the reaction process can proceed spontaneously at room temperature.

An efficient single atom catalysts Os/P_(3)C sheet for ammonia borane dehydrogenation

Ammonia borane(NH_(3)BH_(3),AB)has been considered to be a promising chemical hydrogen storage material.Based on density functional theory,a series of transition metal atoms supported P_(3)C(P_(3)C_O)sheet is systematically investigated to screen out the most promising catalyst for dehydrogenation of AB.The results indicate that the Os/P_(3)C and Os/P_(3)C_O could be an efficient single atom catalyst(SACs)and the stepwise reaction pathway with free energy barrier of 2.07 and 1.54 e V respectively.Remarkably,the rate constant further quantitatively confirmed the real situation of the first step of dehydrogenation of AB on the Os/P_(3)C and Os/P_(3)C_O substrates.We found that k_(f1)at 400 K is equivalent to k_(f2)at 800 K,which greatly improves the temperature of the first step of AB dehydrogenation on P_(3)C_O.We hope this work can provide a promising method for the design of catalysts for AB dehydrogenation reactions on the surface of two-dimensional materials(2D).

Prediction of semiconducting SiP_(2)monolayer with negative Possion’s ratio,ultrahigh carrier mobility and CO_(2)capture ability

Using particle swarm optimization(PSO)methodology for crystal structure prediction,we predicted a novel two-dimensional(2 D)monolayer of silicide diphosphorus compound:SiP_(2),which exhibits good stability as examined via cohesive energy,mechanical criteria,molecular dynamics simulation and all positive phonon spectrum,respectively.The SiP_(2)monolayer is an indirect semiconductor with the band gap as 1.8484 eV(PBE)or 2.681 eV(HSE06),which makes it more advantageous for high-frequencyresponse optoelectronic materials.Moreover,the monolayer is a relatively hard auxetic material with negative Possion’s ratios,and also possesses a ultrahigh carrier mobility(1.069×10^(5)cm^(2)V^(-1)s^(-1))which is approximately four times the maximum value in phosphorene and comparable to the value of graphene and CP monolayers.Furthermore,the effects of strains on band structures and optical properties of SiP_(2)monolayer have been studied,as well as CO_(2)molecules can be strongly chemically adsorbed on the SiP_(2)monolayer.A semiconductor-to-metal transition for-9.5%strain ratio case and a huge optical absorption capacity on the order of 10^(6)cm^(-1)in visible region present.These theoretical findings endow SiP_(2)Monolayer to be a novel 2 D material holding great promises for applications in highperformance electronics,optoelectronics,mechanics and CO_(2)capturing material.