Integrating Machine Learning With Constant‐Potential Simulation to Unravel Charge‐Transfer Mechanisms in Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation
The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a sustainable approach to ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) synthesis under mild conditions. To achieve scalable NH<sub>3</sub> production, discovering high-performance catalysts for the efficient NRR is crucial. For this purpose, the activity mechanisms of functional group-modified carborin/graphene-supported single-atom catalysts were systematically investigated using the grand-canonical fixed-potential method, which simulates operando constant-potential conditions. Among 144 candidates screened, Cr@NO<sub>2</sub>-carborin/graphene and Cr@CHO-carborin/graphene are identified as the most promising NRR catalysts, with low limiting potentials of -0.220 V for the <sup>*</sup>N<sub>2</sub>→<sup>*</sup>N<sub>2</sub>H step and -0.245 V for the <sup>*</sup>NH→<sup>*</sup>NH<sub>2</sub> step, respectively. Furthermore, interpretable machine learning models revealed that the shift in potential of zero charge, induced by intermediate adsorption, serves as the key voltage-responsive descriptor governing charge transfer patterns and influencing the N<sub>2</sub> activation. These findings establish a paradigm shift from static electronic descriptors to dynamic interfacial property engineering, offering a universal framework for designing electrocatalysts for multi-electron reactions like NRR.
Authors
- Dushuo Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1976-3670)
- Yufei Xue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3911-7412)
- Yalong Jiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3438-8149)
- Yuefei Zhang
- Aijun Du
- Guoping Gao
- Yang Zhang
Institutions
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Center for Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences (RS)
- Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
- Hebei Normal University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Science
- Published
- 2026-03-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202524356
- Primary Topic
- Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00