Dr. Minghui Yang presents Metal Nitride Functional Materials

Metal Nitride Functional Materials 

Minghui Yang 

Dalian University of Technology, 2 Lingong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian, Liaoning,

116024, China 

Email: myang@dlut.edu.cn 

Metal nitrides represent a unique class of intermetallic materials that have garnered significant attention due to their distinctive crystal structures and exceptional physicochemical properties, including high electronic conductivity, chemical stability, and corrosion resistance. The incorporation of nitrogen atoms into the lattice often induces structural expansion and electronic modifications, imparting properties comparable to those of noble metals. However, the precise control of their crystal structures and morphologies remains a significant challenge. Our research group and co-workers has made substantial advancements in the synthesis and functional applications of metal nitrides and their composites. Through a combination of experimental studies, synchrotron-based characterizations, and theoretical calculations, we have systematically investigated their structure-property relationships. Key breakthroughs include the first successful synthesis of a zirconium nitride (ZrN) catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which exhibits superior catalytic activity and stability compared to commercial Pt/C catalysts.¹ Additionally, we have engineered a V₂O₃ Lewis acid protective layer to optimize the micro-catalytic reaction environment of nitrides, significantly enhancing the stability of large-current seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production. ^2-4 In the field of gas sensing, we have designed and synthesized titanium nitride (TiN) materials with a high concentration of nitrogen vacancies, demonstrating remarkable sensitivity and selectivity for electrochemical NO₂ detection.⁵ Our findings not only highlight the potential of metal nitrides in critical applications such as electrocatalysis and gas sensing but also provide valuable insights for the rational design of next-generation solid-state functional materials. 

1. Y. Yuan, J. Wang, S. Adimi, H. Shen, T. Thomas, R. Ma, J. P. Attfield*, M. Yang*, Zirconium nitride catalysts surpass platinum for oxygen reduction, Nature Materials, 2020, 19, 282. 

2. H. Hu, Z. Zhang, L. Liu, X. Che, J. Wang, Y. Zhu, J. P. Attfield, M. Yang*, Efficient and durable seawater electrolysis with a V₂O₃-protected catalyst, Science Advances, 2024, 10, eadn7012. 

3. X. Wang, H. Hu, X. Yan, Z. Zhang, M. Yang*, Activating interfacial electron redistribution in highly lattice-matched biphasic Ni₃N-Co₃N for energy-efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen production via coupled hydrazine degradation, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024, 63, e202401364.

4. H. Hu, X. Wang, Z. Zhang, J. Liu, X. Yan, X. Wang, J. Wang, J. P. Attfield, M*. Yang, Engineered nickel – iron nitride electrocatalyst for industrial-scale seawater hydrogen production, Advanced Materials, 2024, 2415421. 

5. X. Zhao, Z. Xu, Z. Zhang, J. Liu, X. Yan, Y. Zhu, J. P. Attfield, M*. Yang, Titanium nitride sensor for selective NO₂ detection, Nature Communication, 2025, 16, 182.