Issue 4, 2024

Mixed-valence Cu-based heterostructures for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

Abstract

The electrocatalytic NO3 reduction reaction (NO3RR) to NH3 provides a promising pathway for ambient NH3 synthesis and environmental pollution treatment. Cu and its oxides are recognized as effective NO3RR electrocatalysts due to their favorable d-orbital energy levels and superior kinetics. In this work, mixed-valence Cu-based catalysts with tunable valence states were constructed via an inorganic salt-induced MOF-derived strategy. Notably, optimized Cu–CuxO/C-0.3 featured a Cu/Cu2O heterostructure and demonstrated the lowest Cu valence state. The resulting Cu/Cu2O heterointerface facilitated electron transfer and increased the density of electrochemically active sites, leading to an enhanced faradaic efficiency of 81.4% and a remarkable yield rate of 13.38 mg h−1 cm−2 (ca. 2.39 mol h−1 gcat.−1) at −0.8 V vs. RHE. This work presents insights for designing multi-phase heterostructured NO3RR catalysts and emphasizes their potential significance in efficient ammonia production.

Graphical abstract: Mixed-valence Cu-based heterostructures for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Nov 2023
Accepted
14 Dec 2023
First published
15 Dec 2023

Dalton Trans., 2024,53, 1673-1679

Mixed-valence Cu-based heterostructures for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

J. Ye, Y. Yang, M. Teng, A. Wang, J. Xia, G. He and H. Chen, Dalton Trans., 2024, 53, 1673 DOI: 10.1039/D3DT03849A

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