Enhanced Li-ion diffusion improves N 2 -to-NH 3 current efficiency at 100 mA cm −2

Electrochemical lithium (Li)–mediated nitrogen (N 2 ) reduction could enable production of ammonia (NH 3 ) at ambient temperatures and pressures, offering a route to reduce carbon emissions in the chemical sector. However, NH 3 productivity is often limited by sluggish Li-ion desolvation and diffusion at the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Here, we present a concerted desolvation:diffusion layered SEI architecture that provides abundant Li-ion flux for efficient N 2 conversion toward NH 3 production at high current densities. The SEI comprises stacked inorganic layers with low ion-binding affinity and high ion-conductivity functionalities that increase Li-ion flux by two orders of magnitude. This design…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: BE3250011, 22173066, 92472110
• GO
  Government of Jiangsu Province

  Award: BK20230065
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Awards: 24X010301678, 23X010301599