Strong metal-support interactions of Co-based catalysts facilitated by dopamine for highly efficient ammonia synthesis: in situ XPS and XAFS spectroscopy coupled with TPD studies

Xiuyun Wang; Lingling Li; Tianhua Zhang; Bingyu Lin; Jun Ni; Chak-Tong Au; Lilong Jiang

doi:10.1039/c8cc07130f

Strong metal-support interactions of Co-based catalysts facilitated by dopamine for highly efficient ammonia synthesis: in situ XPS and XAFS spectroscopy coupled with TPD studies

Chem Commun (Camb). 2019 Jan 3;55(4):474-477. doi: 10.1039/c8cc07130f.

Authors

Xiuyun Wang¹, Lingling Li, Tianhua Zhang, Bingyu Lin, Jun Ni, Chak-Tong Au, Lilong Jiang

Affiliation

¹ National Engineering Research Center of Chemical Fertilizer Catalyst, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China. jll@fzu.edu.cn jllfzu@sina.cn.

PMID: 30547168
DOI: 10.1039/c8cc07130f

Abstract

We report a new strategy for strengthening metal-support interaction and stabilizing Co nanoparticles at high temperature. Through the use of dopamine and removal of carbon layers by thermal N2 treatment, ceria-based Co catalysts that are efficient and highly stable for ammonia synthesis can be obtained. The ammonia synthesis rate at 425 °C and 1 MPa is enhanced from 3.81 mmolNH3 gcat-1 h-1 over Co/CeO2 to 19.12 mmolNH3 gcat-1 h-1 over a dopamine-mediated catalyst. The superior catalytic performances of the dopamine-mediated Co/CeO2 catalyst are associated with smaller crystalline size, stronger metal-support interaction and lower N2 activation energy.