Promoting N(2) electroreduction to ammonia by fluorine-terminating Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene

Two-dimensional MXene-based materials are potential of presenting unique catalytic performances of electrocatalytic reactions. The surface functionalization of MXene-based catalysts is attractive for developing efficient electrocatalysts toward nitrogen reduction reaction. Herein, we reported a Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene with a medium density of surface functionalized fluorine terminal groups, as an excellent N(2) reduction reaction electrocatalyst with enhanced adsorption and activation of N(2). The Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene catalyst showed a production rate of ammonia as 2.81 × 10(–5) μmol·s(−1)·cm(−2), corresponding to a partial current density of 18.3 μA·cm(−2) and a Faradic efficiency of 7.4% at − 0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in aqueous solutions at ambient conditions, substantially exceeding similar Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene catalysts but with higher or lower densities of surface fluorine terminal groups. Our work suggests the capability of developing surface functionalization toolkit for enhancing electrochemical catalytic activities of two-dimensional MXene-based materials. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40580-021-00264-9.