Enhanced Li-ion diffusion improves N2-to-NH3 current efficiency at 100 mA cm−2

Electrochemical lithium (Li)–mediated nitrogen (N2) reduction could enable production of ammonia (NH3) at ambient temperatures and pressures, offering a route to reduce carbon emissions in the chemical sector. However, NH3 productivity is often limited by sluggish Li+ desolvation and diffusion at the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Here, we present a concerted desolvation/diffusion layered SEI architecture that provides abundant Li+ flux for efficient N2 conversion and high production at high current densities. The SEI comprises stacked inorganic layers with low ion-binding affinity and high ion-conductivity functionalities that increase Li+ flux by two orders of magnitude. This design strategy achieved N2 electroreduction in a 2 M lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate electrolyte with a Faradaic efficiency of 98% and an energy efficiency of 21% for NH3 production at 100 milliamperes per square centimeter. The system sustained an 80% Faradaic efficiency over 40 hours, after which performance declined.

Authors: Qiang Zhang, Huamin Li, Peiping Yu, Pengyu Liu, Ning Sun, Yian Wang, Chunlei Tu, Yiping Liu, Yan Wang, Xinyang Yue, Linlin Ma, Wen Wen, Jingxing Xu, Zhaohui Liang, Jingyuan Ma, Fei Song, Zheng Liang, Hao Sun, Daishun Ling, Hongyan Liang, Feng Liu, Yongfeng Hu, Tao Cheng, J. Li

Journal: Science, 2026, 391, 724-729

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