(139a) Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction and Photodoping Using 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

We use 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) catalysts to facilitate the nitrate reduction to ammonia (NH_3­) and proton reduction to hydrogen (H₂) via dark electrocatalysis. These two reduction pathways are very important to understand and control for NH₃ and H₂electrochemical production, where both products can be used as energy carriers, for energy storage, and as direct fuels. TMDCs are good catalyst candidates for electrochemical reduction reactions because they can be reduced to 2D, where their quantum confined properties are easily manipulated for various applications. We will also show examples of long-lived photodoping of 2D TMDC monolayers and how these could be used in devices. Through these TMDC electrocatalytic studies, we determined that the experimental setup in an H-cell that is typically reported in the literature is not optimal for detecting ammonia. We have determined that some anion exchange membranes are better suited in an H-cell setup over the traditional Nafion (cation exchange membrane) for electrocatalyst discovery in nitrate and nitrogen reduction to generation NH₃. We will discuss our recommendations for membrane selection in an H-cell setup.