Rare-earth La-doped VS_2-x for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

We report rare-earth La-doped VS2-x enriched with S-vacancies (La-VS2-x) towards the electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia (NO3RR), which shows a maximum NH3-faradaic efficiency of 96.6% with a corresponding NH3 yield rate of 11.3 mg h(-1) cm(-2) at -0.6 V vs. RHE. Theoretical computations unveil that La-dopants and S-vacancies synergistically promote NO3- activation, suppress hydrogen evolution and lower the energetic barriers, leading to the enhanced NO3RR activity and selectivity of La-VS2-x.