Nitrogen-impregnated carbon-coated TiO2 nanoparticles for N2 reduction to ammonia under ambient conditions

• Single-phase TiO 2 enriched with N impregnated carbon. • Uniform TiO 2 @N-C nanoparticles with an average particle of 18 nm. • N and C promote electrocatalytic NRR activity and selectivity. • Improved ammonia yield (5.302 μg h −1 cm −2 ) and FE (2.46 %). Various methods for ammonia production are being studied world wide. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) has been considered an ideal eco-friendly approach for ammonia production. In this study, we proposed a nitrogen-impregnated carbon coating strategy to increase the activity of TiO 2 -based catalysts for eNRR. Electrochemical measurements revealed that TiO 2 @N-C resulted in a higher ammonia yield rate (5.302 μg h −1 cm −2 ) and enhanced Faradaic efficiency (2.46%) at −0.1 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. The N-impregnated carbon coating enhanced electron conductivity and electrocatalytic activity, which indicates better performance of the eNRR.