Issue 18, 2023

A CoOxHy/β-NiOOH electrocatalyst for robust ammonia oxidation to nitrite and nitrate

Abstract

As the global demand for fertilisers and other nitrogenous products increases, so does the demand for robust, cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to the Ostwald process for the oxidation of ammonia to NOx compounds. Attention has turned to the electrochemical ammonia oxidation to nitrite and nitrate ([NO2/3]) – a process that could enable distributed production of these important commodity chemicals. Studies of the ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) for the synthesis of [NO2/3] are now trending towards more selective and cheaper catalytic materials, rather than the optimisation of Pt and other known noble metal-based catalysts that are subject to poisoning and/or corrosion. Towards this goal, we describe a composite of CoOxHy and β-NiOOH on a Ni foam substrate as an electrocatalyst for the AOR that enables generation of [NO2/3] under alkaline conditions over extended periods of operation. Specifically, the average [NO2/3] yield rate of 1.5 ± 0.5 nmol s−1 cm−2 with a faradaic efficiency of 79% ± 10% is demonstrated over 4 days of continuous operation. These results represent a step forward in the development of more robust, corrosion-resistant, and industrially practical materials for the sustainable production of nitrates and nitrites.

Graphical abstract: A CoOxHy/β-NiOOH electrocatalyst for robust ammonia oxidation to nitrite and nitrate

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 May 2023
Accepted
02 Aug 2023
First published
04 Aug 2023

Green Chem., 2023,25, 7157-7165

Author version available

A CoOxHy/β-NiOOH electrocatalyst for robust ammonia oxidation to nitrite and nitrate

S. Cohen, S. Johnston, C. K. Nguyen, T. D. Nguyen, D. A. Hoogeveen, D. Van Zeil, S. Giddey, A. N. Simonov and D. R. MacFarlane, Green Chem., 2023, 25, 7157 DOI: 10.1039/D3GC01835K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements