1
Return

Trifunctional cobalt single-atom catalyst with axial chloride coordination to achieve efficient methylamine electrosynthesis: a constant-potential DFT study

delete2026-04-01
delete0
PRE
AI
Y
Yang, Ao
Z
Zhu, Changyan
Y
Yun‐Jie Chu
Y
Yaqian Zhang
G
Geng, Yun
W
Wang, Xinlong
S
Su, Zhongmin
M
Min Zhang *
DOI:10.1039/d6ta01804adelete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Electrochemical methylamine synthesis from nitrate (NO3-) and carbon dioxide (CO2) offers a promising approach for sustainable methylamine production, but progress remains limited due to the sluggish C-N coupling process and the lack of effective catalysts. For this purpose, a system with efficient trifunctionality, i.e., NO3- reduction, CO2 reduction and crucial C-N coupling sites, is essential for efficient methylamine production on single-atom catalysts (SACs). Through a systematic investigation by performing constant-potential density functional theory calculations, axially chlorine-coordinated Co single-atom catalysts anchored on graphene (CoN4(Cl)@G) with outstanding trifunctionality are identified from among a series of TMN4(Cl)@G and TMN4@G (TM = Fe, Co, Ni) systems. Furthermore, a distinct C-N coupling mechanism, namely, the direct coupling of the migration-capable CO species with the *NH2 intermediate to form the key precursor *NH2CO (*NH2-CO -> *NH2CO), is evidenced to be both thermodynamically and kinetically feasible (with a low energy barrier of 0.48 eV). Consequently, this work presents a practical strategy for methylamine synthesis starting from graphene-supported single-atom sites, and also advances mechanistic insight into C-N bond formation.
Keywords:
OXYGEN REDUCTION
MECHANISM
CO2

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry A cover
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
IF:
9.5
Papers:
3.3W
Citations:
21.7W

Organization

N
northeast normal university - china
Scholars:
1.2W
Papers: 9.1K
Citations: 23
J
Jilin University
Scholars:
8.4W
Papers: 5.5W
Citations: 8.9K
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers