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Bilayer electrified-membrane with pair-atom tin catalysts for near-complete conversion of low concentration nitrate to dinitrogen

Author

Listed:
  • Xuanhao Wu

    (Zhejiang University
    Yale University)

  • Xiaoxiong Wang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Yunshuo Wu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Huimin Xu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Zhe Li

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Rongrong Hong

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Kali Rigby

    (Yale University)

  • Zhongbiao Wu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Jae-Hong Kim

    (Yale University
    Seongbuk-gu)

Abstract

Discharge of wastewater containing nitrate (NO3−) disrupts aquatic ecosystems even at low concentrations. However, selective and rapid reduction of NO3− at low concentration to dinitrogen (N2) is technically challenging. Here, we present an electrified membrane (EM) loaded with Sn pair-atom catalysts for highly efficient NO3− reduction to N2 in a single-pass electrofiltration. The pair-atom design facilitates coupling of adsorbed N intermediates on adjacent Sn atoms to enhance N2 selectivity, which is challenging with conventional fully-isolated single-atom catalyst design. The EM ensures sufficient exposure of the catalysts and intensifies the catalyst interaction with NO3− through mass transfer enhancement to provide more N intermediates for N2 coupling. We further develop a reduced titanium dioxide EM as the anode to generate free chlorines for fully oxidizing the residual ammonia (

Suggested Citation

  • Xuanhao Wu & Xiaoxiong Wang & Yunshuo Wu & Huimin Xu & Zhe Li & Rongrong Hong & Kali Rigby & Zhongbiao Wu & Jae-Hong Kim, 2025. "Bilayer electrified-membrane with pair-atom tin catalysts for near-complete conversion of low concentration nitrate to dinitrogen," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56102-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56102-7
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