Electro- and Photocatalytic N2 conversion with transition metal chalcogenides over 2D and 3D structured electrodes (NI-CONSTRUCT)

本项目旨在为电催化和光催化还原N2 （NRR）建立合适的电极/电解质组合。特别是离子液体电解质、三维纳米结构电极和基于非贵金属硫族化合物的新型催化剂材料，这些材料模拟了氮酶催化中心的自然作用模式。根据SPP的主要精神，我们还计划在相同的双室电池中比较光电催化和电催化NRR，以确定两种反应方案的相似性和先决条件。我们打算在电极结构和组成与潜在催化剂，电解质控制的反应环境以及电化学和光电化学条件下进行的反应之间建立理解。因此，在项目中实现的新型ILs也将固定在纤维结构上和内部，例如使用静电纺丝方法，并且将确定改进的三相边界和缩短的产物、产物和电荷载流子的扩散路径对NRR性能的影响。

The present project aims at establishing suitable electrode/electrolyte combinations for the electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic reduction of N2 (NRR). In particular, ionic liquids(IL)-based electrolytes, 3D nanostructured electrodes, and novel catalyst materials based on non-noble metal chalcogenides which mimic the natural role model of the catalytic centers of nitrogenases will be investigated. We also plan to compare photoelectrocatalytic and electrocatalytic NRR in identical two-compartment cells to identify similarities and prerequisites for both types of reaction schemes, in accordance with the main spirit of the SPP. We intend to create an understanding between the electrode structure and composition with the potential catalysts, the reaction environment controlled by the electrolyte, and the reaction performed under electrochemical and photoelectrochemical conditions. Therefore, novel ILs realized during the project will be also immobilized on and within fibrous structures, e.g. using the electrospinning approach, and the effect of improved 3-phase boundaries and shortened diffusion paths for educt, product and charge carriers on NRR performance will be determined.