Water-Driven Solid Electrolyte Interphase Governs Continuous-Flow Ammonia Electrosynthesis

Authors

• Peng-Bo Liu, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
• Sheng-Liang Zhai, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China; Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Chemistry and Energy Catalysis of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. ChinaFollow
• Ji Huang, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
• Zhong-Shuo Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China; Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Chemistry and Energy Catalysis of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
• Jie Zeng, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Chemistry and Energy Catalysis of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China; School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan, Anhui 243002, P. R. China; Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, Hefei 230088, P. R. ChinaFollow
• Shao-Feng Li, State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. ChinaFollow

Corresponding Author

Sheng-Liang Zhai ([email protected]);
Jie Zeng ([email protected]);
Shao-Feng Li ([email protected])

Abstract

Flow-cell architectures have emerged as a powerful platform for continuous and stable lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction (Li-NRR), enabling ambient-condition electrochemical ammonia synthesis and offering a promising alternative to Haber-Bosch processes. However, Li-NRR is exceptionally sensitive to trace water, and even minor variations in water content can profoundly alter interfacial chemistry. Here, we systematically investigate how initial water concentration affects Li-NRR performance in a continuous-flow cell. Excess water drives the formation of a thick solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, which may impede nitrogen access to metallic lithium and hinder lithium-ion transport. As a result, the ammonia Faradaic efficiency collapses from ~61% to ~3%. These findings reveal the decisive, previously underappreciated role of water in governing SEI evolution and highlight the necessity of precise water control for achieving stable, high-efficiency continuous-flow Li-NRR.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Water, Solid electrolyte interphase, Continuous-flow cell, Lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction, Ammonia synthesis

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.61558/2993-074X.3605

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2026-04-28

Online Available Date

2026-02-13

Revised Date

2026-01-21

Received Date

2025-12-14

Recommended Citation

Peng-Bo Liu, Sheng-Liang Zhai, Ji Huang, Zhong-Shuo Zhang, Jie Zeng, Shao-Feng Li. Water-Driven Solid Electrolyte Interphase Governs Continuous-Flow Ammonia Electrosynthesis[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2026, 32(4): 2517001.
DOI: 10.61558/2993-074X.3605
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol32/iss4/2