Excavated cubic platinum–iridium alloy nanocrystals with high-index facets as highly efficient electrocatalysts in N₂ fixation to NH₃

Abstract

Excavated cubic Pt₉₃Ir₇ alloy nanocrystals enclosed by high-index {710} facets exhibit excellent electrocatalytic properties for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) with a high faradaic efficiency (40.8%) and NH₃ production rate (28 μg h^-1 cm^-2). The presence of Ir on the Pt stepped surface suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and accelerates the NRR.