Enhanced Electrochemical N₂ Reduction to NH₃ on Reduced Graphene Oxide by Tannic Acid Modification

Abstract

Developing high-efficiency nonmetal electrocatalysts for the electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR) is of great significance for the sustainable development of human society. Here, we demonstrate that surface modification of reduced graphene oxide by tannic acid is a mild and effective strategy to boost its NRR activity. Such electrocatalyst is stable with an NH3 formation rate of 17.02 μg h–1 mg–1cat. in 0.5 M LiClO4, and its Faradaic efficiency can reach 4.83% at an optimized potential. The work would provide an impressive new option to boost the electrocatalytic N2-fixing performances of carbon materials by organic molecules modification.