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Efficient tandem electroreduction of nitrate into ammonia through coupling Cu single atoms with adjacent Co3O4

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  • Yan Liu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jie Wei

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Zhengwu Yang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Lirong Zheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jiankang Zhao

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Zhimin Song

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Yuhan Zhou

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jiajie Cheng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Junyang Meng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Zhigang Geng

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jie Zeng

    (University of Science and Technology of China
    University of Science and Technology of China
    University of Science and Technology of China
    Anhui University of Technology)

Abstract

The nitrate (NO3−) electroreduction into ammonia (NH3) represents a promising approach for sustainable NH3 synthesis. However, the variation of adsorption configurations renders great difficulties in the simultaneous optimization of binding energy for the intermediates. Though the extensively reported Cu-based electrocatalysts benefit NO3− adsorption, one of the key issues lies in the accumulation of nitrite (NO2−) due to its weak adsorption, resulting in the rapid deactivation of catalysts and sluggish kinetics of subsequent hydrogenation steps. Here we report a tandem electrocatalyst by combining Cu single atoms catalysts with adjacent Co3O4 nanosheets to boost the electroreduction of NO3− to NH3. The obtained tandem catalyst exhibits a yield rate for NH3 of 114.0 mg $${}_{{{{{{\rm{NH}}}}}}_3}$$ NH 3 h−1 cm−2, which exceeds the previous values for the reported Cu-based catalysts. Mechanism investigations unveil that the combination of Co3O4 regulates the adsorption configuration of NO2− and strengthens the binding with NO2−, thus accelerating the electroreduction of NO3− to NH3.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Liu & Jie Wei & Zhengwu Yang & Lirong Zheng & Jiankang Zhao & Zhimin Song & Yuhan Zhou & Jiajie Cheng & Junyang Meng & Zhigang Geng & Jie Zeng, 2024. "Efficient tandem electroreduction of nitrate into ammonia through coupling Cu single atoms with adjacent Co3O4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48035-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48035-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qinglei Meng & Jiang Yan & Ruizhi Wu & Huizhen Liu & Yang Sun & NingNing Wu & Junfeng Xiang & Lirong Zheng & Jing Zhang & Buxing Han, 2021. "Sustainable production of benzene from lignin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Jia-Yi Fang & Qi-Zheng Zheng & Yao-Yin Lou & Kuang-Min Zhao & Sheng-Nan Hu & Guang Li & Ouardia Akdim & Xiao-Yang Huang & Shi-Gang Sun, 2022. "Ampere-level current density ammonia electrochemical synthesis using CuCo nanosheets simulating nitrite reductase bifunctional nature," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Kui Fan & Wenfu Xie & Jinze Li & Yining Sun & Pengcheng Xu & Yang Tang & Zhenhua Li & Mingfei Shao, 2022. "Active hydrogen boosts electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Wenhui He & Jian Zhang & Stefan Dieckhöfer & Swapnil Varhade & Ann Cathrin Brix & Anna Lielpetere & Sabine Seisel & João R. C. Junqueira & Wolfgang Schuhmann, 2022. "Splicing the active phases of copper/cobalt-based catalysts achieves high-rate tandem electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
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