Atomic Scale Cooperativity of Alloy Nanostructures for Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia in Neutral Media
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) offers a route to balanced nitrogen cycle and sustainable ammonia production. However, unsatisfied performance in neutral media arising from competitive hydrogen evolution reaction and inefficient hydrogenation impede the further applications of NO3RR. Herein, the rational design of RuNi alloy nanostructures is reported. Benefited from the synergism effect between Ru and Ni, Ru20Ni80 alloy exhibits a high NH3 Faradaic efficiency of 98.02% at −0.35 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) and a large NH3 yield rate of 27.88 mg mgcat−1 h−1 at −0.65 V (vs RHE). Importantly, the atomic scale cooperation between Ru and Ni active sites endows RuNi alloy a close‐to‐unity NH3 selectivity via HNO* pathway. Theoretical calculations have revealed that the interactions between Ru and Ni optimize the electronic structures of Ru20Ni80 alloy, where Ru sites with enhanced electroactivity improve the generation of active hydrogens and more electron‐rich Ni sites facilitate the reduction of nitrate. Accordingly, the adsorption strengths of key intermediates become stronger and the energy barriers of NO3RR are reduced to guarantee efficient NO3RR. Furthermore, a flow‐type reactor coupled with coprecipitation is established to achieve continuous NH3 generation and recovery as struvite.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Hydrogen Storage and Materials
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong SAR 999077 China
Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center (NPMM) City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong SAR 999077 China
Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Kowloon Hong Kong SAR 999077 China
Institute of Physics Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
Department of Material Science and Engineering City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong SAR 999077 China
Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility Institute of High Energy Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy (HKICE) City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong SAR 999077 China
City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute Shenzhen 518057 China
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China · Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program · City University of Hong Kong
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