In Situ Derived Bi Nanoparticles Confined in Carbon Rods as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Ambient N2 Reduction to NH3

Electrocatalytic N₂ reduction is deemed as a prospective strategy toward low-carbon and environmentally friendly NH₃ production under mild conditions, but its further application is still plagued by low NH₃ yield and poor faradaic efficiency (FE). Thus, electrocatalysts endowing with high activity and satisfying selectivity are highly needed. Herein, Bi nanoparticles in situ confined in carbon rods (Bi NPs@CRs) are reported, which are fabricated via thermal annealing of a Bi-MOF precursor as a high-efficiency electrocatalyst for artificial NH₃ synthesis with favorable selectivity. Such an electrocatalyst conducted in 0.1 M HCl achieves a high FE of 11.50% and a large NH₃ yield of 20.80 μg h^-1 mg^-1_cat. at -0.55 and -0.60 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively, which also possesses high electrochemical durability.