Electrochemical reduction of NO to NH3 on Zn nanosheets

Abstract

We report that Zn nanosheets can serve as a cost-effective and efficient metallic catalyst towards the electrochemical reduction of NO to NH₃ (NORR), delivering the maximum NO-to-NH₃ faradaic efficiency of 88.2% and NH₃ yield rate of 149.7 μmol h⁻¹ cm⁻². Theoretical calculations reveal that Zn active centers enable the effective activation and protonation of NO through a NOH pathway, while concurrently restraining H adsorption for HER inhibition, facilitating both NORR activity and selectivity.