MAX phase metal carbide-enabled triboelectric nanogenerator for integrated ammonia generation

Abstract

Electrochemical ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions offers a promising and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods, which are highly energy-intensive and major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. To make this approach sustainable, it must be integrated with a renewable, clean, and affordable energy source. Here, we developed an eco-friendly approach to produce electrocatalytic ammonia powered by electricity generated from a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) device through mechanical energy. The TENG device performance is improved by ternary MAX phase carbide Ti2AlC and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer composite electrodes, and it can be operated with low-frequency mechanical energy. Ti2AlC was found suitable to modulate the triboelectric properties of PDMS with improved charge transfer, dielectric behavior, and surface roughness. We employed an optimized Ti2AlC/PDMS TENG to power electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis by electrochemical nitrate reduction using a V2C MXene catalyst, which efficiently triggers the reaction from the TENG output. Further, continuous ammonia generation during long-term mechanically operated TENG experiments validates the feasibility of developing such a clean energy loop. While TENG-driven electrochemical systems have been demonstrated for hydrogen evolution, pollutant degradation, and ammonia synthesis using non-MAX-based TENG devices. Here, we integrate a MAX (Ti2AlC)/PDMS-based TENG with a V2C MXene electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia, establishing a previously unexplored triboelectric-catalyst pairing for self-powered ammonia synthesis. This integration presents a novel direction for the utilization of MAX phase compounds for triboelectric application and TENG-based ammonia production systems.

Electrochemical ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions offers a promising and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods, which are highly energy-intensive and major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. To make this approach sustainable, it must be integrated with a renewable, clean, and affordable energy source. Here, we developed an eco-friendly approach to produce electrocatalytic ammonia powered by electricity generated from a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) device through mechanical energy. The TENG device performance is improved by ternary MAX phase carbide Ti2AlC and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer composite electrodes, and it can be operated with low-frequency mechanical energy. Ti2AlC was found suitable to modulate the triboelectric properties of PDMS with improved charge transfer, dielectric behavior, and surface roughness. We employed an optimized Ti2AlC/PDMS TENG to power electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis by electrochemical nitrate reduction using a V2C MXene catalyst, which efficiently triggers the reaction from the TENG output. Further, continuous ammonia generation during long-term mechanically operated TENG experiments validates the feasibility of developing such a clean energy loop. While TENG-driven electrochemical systems have been demonstrated for hydrogen evolution, pollutant degradation, and ammonia synthesis using non-MAX-based TENG devices. Here, we integrate a MAX (Ti2AlC)/PDMS-based TENG with a V2C MXene electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia, establishing a previously unexplored triboelectric-catalyst pairing for self-powered ammonia synthesis. This integration presents a novel direction for the utilization of MAX phase compounds for triboelectric application and TENG-based ammonia production systems.