Electrocatalysis is a promising approach for the sustainable conversion of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into chemical energy that can be stored and used on demand. By harnessing renewable electricity to drive electrochemical reactions, we can produce fuels and chemicals in a way that is both clean and cost-effective. As we continue to develop new electrocatalytic materials and improve the efficiency of existing processes, the potential for electrocatalysis to transform our energy system will only continue to grow.
We report the use of iron phosphide (Fe2P, FeP) in several electrocatalytic applications, such as reduction of nitrate ions (NO3), hydrogen and oxygen evolution studies. The electrochemical reduction of the nitrate ion (NO3), a widespread water pollutant, to valuable ammonia (NH3) is a promising approach to achieving green energy conservation. Particularly, FeP and Fe2P phases were successfully demonstrated as efficient catalysts for NH3 generation. Detection of the in-situ formed product using a bi-potentiostat was achieved by electrooxidation of NH3 to nitrogen (N2) on a Pt electrode. The Fe2P catalyst exhibits the highest Faradaic efficiency (96%) for NH3 generation with a yield (0.25 mmol h−1 cm-−2 or 2.10 mg h−1 cm−2) at −0.55 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). To get relevant information about the reaction mechanisms and the fundamental origins behind the better performance of Fe2P, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed
