Ampere-level current density ammonia electrochemical synthesis using CuCo nanosheets simulating nitrite reductase bifunctional nature

2022/12/22 by Jia-Yi Fang, Qizheng Zheng, Yao‐Yin Lou +6 · 9 citations
Chemical Engineering · Energy · Chemistry · #Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction #Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques #Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions

paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41467-022-35533-6

openalex publication_date 2022/12/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26

Abstract

Abstract The development of electrocatalysts capable of efficient reduction of nitrate (NO 3 − ) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is drawing increasing interest for the sake of low carbon emission and environmental protection. Herein, we present a CuCo bimetallic catalyst able to imitate the bifunctional nature of copper-type nitrite reductase, which could easily remove NO 2 − via the collaboration of two active centers. Indeed, Co acts as an electron/proton donating center, while Cu facilitates NO x − adsorption/association. The bio-inspired CuCo nanosheet electrocatalyst delivers a 100 ± 1% Faradaic efficiency at an ampere-level current density of 1035 mA cm −2 at −0.2 V vs . Reversible Hydrogen Electrode. The NH 3 production rate reaches a high activity of 4.8 mmol cm −2 h −1 (960 mmol g cat −1 h −1 ). A mechanistic study, using electrochemical in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy, reveals a strong synergy between Cu and Co, with Co sites promoting the hydrogenation of NO 3 − to NH 3 via adsorbed *H species. The well-modulated coverage of adsorbed *H and *NO 3 led simultaneously to high NH 3 selectivity and yield.

Cited by

• Thermally Enhanced Relay Electrocatalysis of Nitrate-to-Ammonia Reduction over Single-Atom-Alloy Oxides
• Unveiling the Reaction Mechanism of Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia on a Cu/Cu ₂ O Heterojunction Catalyst
• Designing Efficient Nitrate Reduction Electrocatalysts by Identifying and Optimizing Active Sites of Co-Based Spinels
• Boosting Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia via Promoting Water Dissociation
• Perspective on Modular Electrocatalysis for Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling
• Efficient Neutral Nitrate-to-Ammonia Electrosynthesis Using Synergistic Ru-Based Nanoalloys on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon
• Boron-Insertion-Induced Lattice Engineering of Rh Nanocrystals Toward Enhanced Electrocatalytic Conversion of Nitric Oxide to Ammonia
• Cobalt-Based Electrocatalysts for Sustainable Nitrate Conversion: Structural Design and Mechanistic Advancements
• Unveiling the Reaction Mechanism of Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Over Cobalt-Based Electrocatalysts

Related

• Enhancing Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia over Cu Nanosheets via Facet Tandem Catalysis
• Electrocatalytic Nitrate and Nitrite Reduction toward Ammonia Using Cu₂O Nanocubes: Active Species and Reaction Mechanisms
• Splicing the active phases of copper/cobalt-based catalysts achieves high-rate tandem electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia
• Efficient tandem electroreduction of nitrate into ammonia through coupling Cu single atoms with adjacent Co3O4
• Unveiling the Reaction Mechanism of Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia on a Cu/Cu ₂ O Heterojunction Catalyst