Sulfur defect-rich WS 2−x nanosheet electrocatalysts for N 2 reduction

Seeking catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity for ambient-condition N2 reduction reaction (NRR) remains an ongoing challenge due to the chemical inertness of N2. Herein, defect-rich WS2 nanosheets (WS2−x) were designed as an efficient electrocatalyst for NRR, which were prepared via vulcanizing the oxygen-vacancy-rich tungsten oxide in a vacuum tube. The sulfur defects were conducive to the adsorption and activation of N2. In neutral electrolyte of 0.1 mol L−1 Na2SO4 at −0.60 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, such WS2−x offered a high Faradaic efficiency of 12.1% with a NH3 generation rate of 16.38 µg h−1 mgcat−1.