Identifying the Active Site on Graphene Oxide Nanosheets for Ambient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction

Identifying the active sites on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets is of great importance. In situ electroreduction at different potentials is applied to control the oxygenated groups on GO surfaces. Both experiments and theoretical calculations suggest the C═O group is critical for N2 adsorption and activation, guaranteeing the ambient electrocatalytic N2 reduction.