CeO_(2)-based catalysts are emerging as novel candidates for catalyzing nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR).However, despite the increasing amount of experimental and theoretical research, the design of more efficient ce...CeO_(2)-based catalysts are emerging as novel candidates for catalyzing nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR).However, despite the increasing amount of experimental and theoretical research, the design of more efficient ceria catalysts for NRR remains a challenge due to the poor knowledge of the catalytic mechanism, particularly the nature of the active sites and how they catalyze NRR. Here, using first-principle calculations, we investigated the NRR catalysis process involving adjacent Ce Lewis acid clusters formed on(111),(110), and(100) facets of CeO_(2) as active sites. Our results revealed that the assembled structures of the Ce Lewis acid as active centers after the oxygen vacancies(Ovs) were opened. The exposed Ce sites on CeO_(2)(111), CeO_(2)(110), and CeO_(2)(100) can cause N_(2) to be adsorbed in a ‘‘lying-down" manner, which facilitates the N2 activation and thus leads to much higher NRR activity. Furthermore, from the perspective of electronic structure, we establish two useful descriptors for assessing the NRR activity on ceria with Ovs:The N–N bond strength of the adsorbed N_(2) and the adsorption energy of the *N_(2)H intermediate. This work thus provides direct guidance for the design of more-effective oxide catalysts without the use of scarce metals.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21973013 and 21673040 to S.L, and 21962007 to S.Z)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China (2020J02025 to S.L)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (2020BABL203009 to S.Z)the Foundation of Jiangxi Educational Committee (GJJ190697 to S.Z)the Qishan Scholarship Program of Fuzhou University (XRC-17055 to S.L)。
文摘CeO_(2)-based catalysts are emerging as novel candidates for catalyzing nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR).However, despite the increasing amount of experimental and theoretical research, the design of more efficient ceria catalysts for NRR remains a challenge due to the poor knowledge of the catalytic mechanism, particularly the nature of the active sites and how they catalyze NRR. Here, using first-principle calculations, we investigated the NRR catalysis process involving adjacent Ce Lewis acid clusters formed on(111),(110), and(100) facets of CeO_(2) as active sites. Our results revealed that the assembled structures of the Ce Lewis acid as active centers after the oxygen vacancies(Ovs) were opened. The exposed Ce sites on CeO_(2)(111), CeO_(2)(110), and CeO_(2)(100) can cause N_(2) to be adsorbed in a ‘‘lying-down" manner, which facilitates the N2 activation and thus leads to much higher NRR activity. Furthermore, from the perspective of electronic structure, we establish two useful descriptors for assessing the NRR activity on ceria with Ovs:The N–N bond strength of the adsorbed N_(2) and the adsorption energy of the *N_(2)H intermediate. This work thus provides direct guidance for the design of more-effective oxide catalysts without the use of scarce metals.
