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Hu J, Tang C, Bi Z, Zhou S, Kong Q, Gao S, Liu X, Zhao X, Hu G. Self-supported iron-doped cobalt-copper oxide heterostructures for efficient electrocatalytic denitrification. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 675:313-325. [PMID: 38972119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate ions (NO3-) to nitrogen gas (N2) has emerged as an effective approach for mitigating nitrate pollution in water bodies. However, the development of efficient and highly selective cathode materials remains challenging. Conventional copper-based catalysts often exhibit low selectivity because they strongly adsorb oxygen. In this study, a straightforward solvothermal and pyrolysis method was used to grow iron-doped cobalt-copper oxide heterogeneous structures on copper foam surfaces (Fe-CoO/CuO@CF). Then, the effects of the applied potential, initial NO3- concentration, Cl- concentration, electrolyte pH, and different catalysts on the catalyst performance were investigated. Compared with recently reported congeners, Fe-CoO/CuO@CF is less expensive and exhibits outstanding activity for NO3- reduction. Meanwhile, under a cathode potential of - 1.31 V vs. Ag/AgCl, Fe-CoO/CuO@CF degrades 98.6 % of NO3- in 200 min. In addition, when employing a method inspired by NH4+ removal by breakpoint chlorination, N2 selectivity over Fe-CoO/CuO@CF was raised from 10 % without Cl- to 99.7 % when supplemented with Cl-. The catalyst demonstrated excellent cyclic stability, maintaining a high electrocatalytic activity for the conversion of NO3- to N2 gas over eleven cycles. Moreover, Fe-CoO/CuO@CF enabled 63.7 % removal of NO3- from wastewater (50 mg/L NO3--N) prepared from natural water, with 100 % conversion to N2. Computational studies showed that iron doping decreased the free energy change of the intermediate of NO3- reduction reaction. This study provides an effective strategy for the electrochemical reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas and offers good prospects for addressing nitrate pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Hu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China
| | - Cui Tang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China
| | - Zenghui Bi
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China
| | - Shuxing Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China.
| | - Qingquan Kong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Sanshuang Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Non-ferrous Metals and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Processing for Non-ferrous Metals and Featured Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xijun Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Non-ferrous Metals and Materials, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Processing for Non-ferrous Metals and Featured Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xue Zhao
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Guangzhi Hu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China.
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2
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Shih YJ, Wu ZL, He YC. Tuning transition metals layered-electroplated on bimetallic M xCu 1-x crystallites (M = Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn) to boost ammonia yield in electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate wastewaters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 477:135276. [PMID: 39088953 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate-containing wastewaters have been recognized as an important source for recovering valuable ammonia. This work targets integrating a series of transition metals (M = Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn) onto Cu crystallites through a layered-plating method. The strategy to promote the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR) involves tuning M surfaces in specific ratios for the hydrogenation of nitrogenous species on MxCu1-x electrodes. Electrochemical analysis and operando Raman spectra identified that a solid-state Cu2O-to-Cu0 transition acted as the primary mediator, while its high corrosion resistance protected the M metals or metal oxides from inactivation in nitrate-to-ammonia pathways. Among bimetals, FeCu was the best combination, with the order of performance in constant potential electrolysis, Fe0.36Cu0.64 > Ni0.73Cu0.27 > Co0.34Cu0.66 > Zn0.64Cu0.36. The collaboration of Cu and M in deoxygenating nitrate and subsequently hydrogenating NOx at respective overpotentials is key to enhancing ammonia yield. Nitrate removal (96 %), NH3 selectivity (93 %), and Faradaic efficiency (92 %) were optimized on Fe0.36Cu0.64 electrode at -0.6 V (vs. RHE). A steady yield as high as 14,080 μg h-1 mg-1 was achieved at 30 mA cm-2 using a real water sample (NO3- ∼ 500 mg-N L-1, pH 4) as the input stream, continuously operated for 96 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jen Shih
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan.
| | - Zhi-Lun Wu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun He
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
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3
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Li D, Jiang SC, Xie JF, Zhang J, Zheng YL, Zhao QB, Yu HQ. Boosting seawater denitrification in an electrochemical flow cell. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 266:122384. [PMID: 39243459 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen compounds in current seawater treatment processes typically are converted to nitrate, threatening seawater quality and marine ecology. Electrochemical denitrification is a promising technique, but its efficiency is severely limited by the presence of excess chloride ions. In this work, a flow-through cell went through an on-demand chlorine-mediated electrochemical-chemical tandem reaction process was designed for efficient seawater denitrification. Equipped with ultrathin cobalt-based nanosheets as the cathode catalyst and commercial IrO2-RuO2/Ti as the anode, the newly designed flow-through cell achieved nitrate removal efficiency that was about 50 times greater than the batch cell and nearly 100 % N2 selectivity. Moreover, nitrite and ammonia can also be removed with over 93 % efficiency in total nitrogen (TN) removal. Furthermore, the concentration of active chlorine in the effluent could be adjusted within two orders of magnitude, enabling on-demand release of active chlorine. Finally, this flow-through cell reduced the TN of actual mariculture tailwater (40.1 mg N L-1 nitrate) to only 5.7 mg N L-1, meeting the discharge standard for aquaculture tailwater of Fujian, China. This work demonstrates the paradigm of deep denitrification from ultra-concentrated chlorine ion wastewater using an on-demand active chlorine-mediated electrochemical-chemical tandem reaction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | | | - Jia-Fang Xie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Jian Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying-Lian Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Quan-Bao Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Han-Qing Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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4
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Wen W, Fang S, Zhou Y, Zhao Y, Li P, Yu XY. Modulating the Electrolyte Microenvironment in Electrical Double Layer for Boosting Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202408382. [PMID: 38806407 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202408382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is a promising approach to achieve remediation of nitrate-polluted wastewater and sustainable production of ammonia. However, it is still restricted by the low activity, selectivity and Faraday efficiency for ammonia synthesis. Herein, we propose an effective strategy to modulate the electrolyte microenvironment in electrical double layer (EDL) by mediating alkali metal cations in the electrolyte to enhance the NO3RR performance. Taking bulk Cu as a model catalyst, the experimental study reveals that the NO3 --to-NH3 performance in different electrolytes follows the trend Li+
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Wen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Shidong Fang
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Centre (Anhui Energy Laboratory), Hefei, 230051, P. R. China
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hefei, 230031, P. R. China
| | - Yitong Zhou
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Ying Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Xinhua University, Hefei, 230088, P. R. China
| | - Peng Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Yao Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, P. R. China
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5
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Zheng Y, Tan Y, Yu X, Yao H, Hu S, Hu J, Chen Z, Guo X. Optimized Intermediates Adsorption Configuration on Co-Doped Fe 2P@NiP 2 Heterojunction Interface for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Nitrate-To-Ammonia Conversion. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2312136. [PMID: 38482968 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202312136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
The extraction of ammonia (NH3) through electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3 -RR) represents a sustainable avenue in NH3 generation and utilization. However, the catalytic efficiency of the NO3 -RR is hindered by the sluggish kinetics. This study first theoretically found that phosphide-based heterostructure can alter the adsorption structure of intermediates in the nitrate-to-ammonia process, thereby achieving precise regulation of the energy barrier in the rate-determining step. Based on theoretical design, a novel Co-doped Fe2P@NiP2 heterojunction catalyst is successfully synthesized, which deliver a notable NH3 yield rate of 0.395 mmol h-1 cm-2 at -0.7 V versus RHE, as well as a remarkable ammonia Faraday efficiency of 97.2% at -0.6 V versus RHE. Experimental and theoretical results further confirm that redistributing electrons and shifting the center of the d-band upwards through interfacial doping modulate intermediates adsorption strength and inhibition of hydrogen evolution, leading to excellent performance in NO3 --to-NH3. Further integrating the Co-Fe2P@NiP2 catalyst into a Zn-nitrate battery exhibits a substantial voltage output of 1.49 V and a commendable power density of 13.2 mW cm-2. The heteroatom-doped heterojunction strategy provides a versatile route for developing advanced catalysts, thereby broadening the horizons of electrocatalytic methodologies for nitrate reduction and ammonia synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinan Zheng
- Key Lab of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, The College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Tan
- School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Xin Yu
- Key Lab of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, The College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Hu Yao
- Key Lab of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, The College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Songjie Hu
- Key Lab of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, The College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Jun Hu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
| | - Zhong Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Xiaohui Guo
- Key Lab of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, The College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, P. R. China
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6
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Fan J, Arrazolo LK, Du J, Xu H, Fang S, Liu Y, Wu Z, Kim JH, Wu X. Effects of Ionic Interferents on Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction: Mechanistic Insight. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12823-12845. [PMID: 38954631 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, poses substantial public health concerns and environmental risks. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate (eNO3RR) has emerged as an effective alternative to conventional biological treatments. While extensive lab work has focused on designing efficient electrocatalysts, implementation of eNO3RR in practical wastewater settings requires careful consideration of the effects of various constituents in real wastewater. In this critical review, we examine the interference of ionic species commonly encountered in electrocatalytic systems and universally present in wastewater, such as halogen ions, alkali metal cations, and other divalent/trivalent ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-/CO32-, SO42-, and PO43-). Notably, we categorize and discuss the interfering mechanisms into four groups: (1) loss of active catalytic sites caused by competitive adsorption and precipitation, (2) electrostatic interactions in the electric double layer (EDL), including ion pairs and the shielding effect, (3) effects on the selectivity of N intermediates and final products (N2 or NH3), and (4) complications by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and localized pH on the cathode surface. Finally, we summarize the competition among different mechanisms and propose future directions for a deeper mechanistic understanding of ionic impacts on eNO3RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Fan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Leslie K Arrazolo
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Jiaxin Du
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Huimin Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Fang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongbiao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jae-Hong Kim
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Xuanhao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
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7
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Zhang Z, Niu A, Lv Y, Guo H, Chen JS, Liu Q, Dong K, Sun X, Li T. NbC Nanoparticles Decorated Carbon Nanofibers as Highly Active and Robust Heterostructural Electrocatalysts for Ammonia Synthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202406441. [PMID: 38742483 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202406441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Transition-metal carbides with metallic properties have been extensively used as electrocatalysts due to their excellent conductivity and unique electronic structures. Herein, NbC nanoparticles decorated carbon nanofibers (NbC@CNFs) are proposed as an efficient and robust catalyst for electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from nitrate/nitrite reduction, which achieves a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 94.4 % and a large ammonia yield of 30.9 mg h-1 mg-1 cat.. In situ electrochemical tests reveal the nitrite reduction at the catalyst surface follows the *NO pathway and theoretical calculations reveal the formation of NbC@CNFs heterostructure significantly broadens density of states nearby the Fermi energy. Finite element simulations unveil that the current and electric field converge on the NbC nanoparticles along the fiber, suggesting the dispersed carbides are highly active for nitrite reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Zhang
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Aihui Niu
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Yaxin Lv
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Haoran Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Green Organic Synthesis and Application of Hunan Province, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, Hunan, China
| | - Jun Song Chen
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, Sichuan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, Sichuan, China
| | - Kai Dong
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Xuping Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Tingshuai Li
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
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8
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Chen L, Zheng H, Li A, Qiu X, Wang L. Lewis acid-rich SrFe xTi 1-xO 3/TiO 2 to enhance the photocatalytic reduction of nitrate to N 2. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134634. [PMID: 38795481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The photocatalytic reduction of nitrate has received considerable attention due to its high efficiency and environmentally friendly nature. The excessive addition of hole scavengers is the most commonly used method to increase the nitrate reduction efficiency. However, achieving high selectivity in the photocatalytic reduction of nitrate to N2 with low concentration of hole scavengers remains challenging. In this study, the SrFexTi1-xO3/TiO2 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with many Lewis acidic adsorption sites have been developed. The experimental results demonstrated that the incorporation of 6% Fe into SrFe0.06Ti0.94O3/TiO2 (SFTO6) resulted in the nitrate conversion rate of 97.68% and the N2 selectivity reached 96.35% with 25 mmol/L formic acid. Moreover, it also exhibited excellent stability and recycle ability. After 5 cycles, SFTO6 still exhibited a stable photocatalytic denitration efficiency of 92.94%, highlighting its potential for practical application. Through comprehensive mechanistic investigations, enhancing direct reduction process is considered the key to its high reduction efficiency with low formic acid. And the Lewis acidic adsorption sites enhance N2 selectivity by enriching NOx- on the surface of the material. Overall, this study provides a novel approach for achieving efficient photocatalytic reduction of nitrate to N2 under conditions with low concentration of hole scavengers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Nanjing University & Yancheng Academy of Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering, Yancheng 224000, China
| | - Haiyang Zheng
- Nanjing University & Yancheng Academy of Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering, Yancheng 224000, China
| | - Aimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Nanjing University & Yancheng Academy of Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering, Yancheng 224000, China.
| | - Xin Qiu
- Nanjing University & Yancheng Academy of Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering, Yancheng 224000, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Nanjing University & Yancheng Academy of Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering, Yancheng 224000, China
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9
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Hu Q, Zhang Z, He D, Wu J, Ding J, Chen Q, Jiao X, Xie Y. Progress and Perspective for "Green" Strategies of Catalytic Plastics Conversion into Fuels by Regulating Half-Reactions. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:16950-16962. [PMID: 38832898 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Nowadays, plastic waste threatens public health and the natural ecosystems of our lives. It is highly beneficial to recycle plastic waste in order to maximize the reuse of its contained carbon sources for the development of other valuable products. Unfortunately, traditional techniques usually require significant energy consumption and result in the generation of hazardous waste. Herein, the up-to-date developments on the "green" strategies under mild conditions including electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis of plastic wastes are presented. During the oxidation of plastics in these "green" strategies, corresponding reduction reactions usually exist, which affect the property of catalytic plastics conversion. Particularly, we mainly focus on how to design the corresponding half reactions, such as the water reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrate reduction. Finally, we provide forward-looking insight into the enhancement of these "green" strategies, the extension of more half reactions into other organic catalysis, a comprehensive exploration of the underlying mechanisms through in situ studies and theoretical analysis and the problems for practical applications that needs to be solved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhixing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Dongpo He
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jiacong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jinyu Ding
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Qingxia Chen
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xingchen Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yi Xie
- Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
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10
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Ma X, Zhong J, Wang R, Li D, Li K, Luo L, Li C. Zeolitic imidazolate framework derived Fe catalyst electrocatalytic-driven atomic hydrogen for efficient reduction of nitrate to N 2. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 471:134354. [PMID: 38653134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Excessive discharge of nitrogen-containing chemical products into the natural water environment leads to the serious environmental problem of nitrate-nitrogen pollution, threatening the ecological balance and human health. In this study, we propose an efficient denitrification electrochemical method utilizing iron-doped zeolite imidazolium framework derived defective nitrogen-doped carbon (d-FeNC) catalysts. The d-FeNC catalyst exhibited 97 % nitrate removal efficiency and 94 % total nitrogen (TN) removal, and the reaction rate constant was increased from 0.73 h-1 of the Fe-undoped electrocatalyst (d-NC) to 1.11 h-1. The successful synthesis of d-FeNC with carbon defect sites and encapsulated Fe was confirmed by in-depth characterization. In situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests confirmed the carbon substrates with defect enhanced the trapping of atomic hydrogen (H*) on the catalyst surface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations clarified the doping of Fe facilitated the adsorption of nitrate, resulting in contact of H* with nitrate on the catalyst surface. In the synergy of the defective state organic framework and metal Fe, H* and nitrate realized a collision process. The electrochemical denitrification system achieved an excellent nitrate removal capacity of 7587 mgN·g-1cat in high-concentration nitrate solution and showed excellent stability under various conditions. Overall, this study underscores the potential of defective iron-doped carbon catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic denitrification, providing a promising approach for sustainable wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Functional Materials of Yunnan Province Education Department, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiapeng Zhong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Rongyue Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dexuan Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Kai Li
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lijun Luo
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Functional Materials of Yunnan Province Education Department, School of Chemistry and Environment, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, China.
| | - Chuanhao Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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11
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Li Y, Ouyang L, Chen J, Fan X, Sun H, He X, Zheng D, Sun S, Luo Y, Liu Q, Li L, Chu W, Du J, Kong Q, Zheng B, Sun X. High-efficiency electrocatalytic nitrite-to-ammonia conversion on molybdenum doped cobalt oxide nanoarray at ambient conditions. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 663:405-412. [PMID: 38412726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical conversion of nitrite (NO2-) contaminant to green ammonia (NH3) is a promising approach to achieve the nitrogen cycle. The slow kinetics of the complex multi-reaction process remains a serious issue, and there is still a need to design highly effective and selective catalysts. Herein, we report that molybdenum doped cobalt oxide nanoarray on titanium mesh (Mo-Co3O4/TM) acts as a catalyst to facilitate electroreduction of NO2- to NH3. Such a catalyst delivers an extremely high Faradaic efficiency of 96.9 % and a corresponding NH3 yield of 651.5 μmol h-1 cm-2 at -0.5 V with strong stability. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the introduction of Mo can induce the redistribution of electrons around Co atoms and further strengthen the adsorption of NO2-, which is the key to facilitating the catalytic performance. Furthermore, the assembled battery based on Mo-Co3O4/TM suggests its practical application value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China; Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Ouyang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoya Fan
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China
| | - Hang Sun
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Science, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xun He
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China
| | - Dongdong Zheng
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Shengjun Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Yongsong Luo
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China
| | - Luming Li
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Chu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China
| | - Juan Du
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China
| | - Qingquan Kong
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China.
| | - Baozhan Zheng
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan, China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan, China.
| | - Xuping Sun
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, China; College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China.
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12
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Tao Z, Yin H, Lv Y, Guo H, Chen JS, Ye X, Xian H, Sun S, Li T. Crystalline modulation of zirconia for efficient nitrate reduction to ammonia under ambient conditions. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:5554-5557. [PMID: 38712366 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc01399a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Zirconia as a polycrystalline catalyst can be effectively tuned by doping low-valence elements and meanwhile form abundant oxygen vacancies. Herein, the crystalline structures of zirconia are modulated by scandium doping and proposed as a robust catalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia. The tetragonal zirconia achieves a maximum ammonia yield of 16.03 mg h-1 mgcat.-1, superior to the other crystal forms. DEMS tests unveil the reaction pathway and theoretical calculations reveal the low free energy of -0.22 eV for nitrate adsorption at the tetragonal zirconia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiruo Tao
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China.
| | - Haitao Yin
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yaxin Lv
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China.
| | - Haoran Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Green Organic Synthesis and Application of Hunan Province, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, China.
| | - Jun Song Chen
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China.
- Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, Sichuan, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Ye
- Software Department, Chengdu Polytechnic, Chengdu, 610095, China
| | - Haohong Xian
- Software Department, Chengdu Polytechnic, Chengdu, 610095, China
| | - Shengjun Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Tingshuai Li
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China.
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13
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Ma X, Ma C, Xia J, Han S, Zhang H, He C, Feng F, Lin G, Cao W, Meng X, Zhu L, Zhu X, Wang AL, Yin H, Lu Q. Heterophase Intermetallic Compounds for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production at Industrial-Scale Current Densities. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38767649 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Heterophase nanomaterials have sparked significant research interest in catalysis due to their distinctive properties arising from synergistic effects of different components and the formed phase boundary. However, challenges persist in the controlled synthesis of heterophase intermetallic compounds (IMCs), primarily due to the lattice mismatch of distinct crystal phases and the difficulty in achieving precise control of the phase transitions. Herein, orthorhombic/cubic Ru2Ge3/RuGe IMCs with engineered boundary architecture are synthesized and anchored on the reduced graphene oxide. The Ru2Ge3/RuGe IMCs exhibit excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance with a high current density of 1000 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of 135 mV. The presence of phase boundaries enhances charge transfer and improves the kinetics of water dissociation while optimizing the processes of hydrogen adsorption/desorption, thus boosting the HER performance. Moreover, an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer is constructed using Ru2Ge3/RuGe as the cathode electrocatalyst, which achieves a current density of 1000 mA cm-2 at a low voltage of 1.73 V, and the activity remains virtually undiminished over 500 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Steel Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chaoqun Ma
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Sumei Han
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Huaifang Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Caihong He
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fukai Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Gang Lin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenbin Cao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiangmin Meng
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Lijie Zhu
- School of Instrument Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, Beijing Information Science and Technology University, Beijing 100192, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - An-Liang Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Haiqing Yin
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Steel Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Qipeng Lu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- Shunde Innovation School, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Foshan 528399, China
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Power Safety Technology and Equipment, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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14
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Bao T, Xi Y, Zhang C, Du P, Xiang Y, Li J, Yuan L, Yu C, Liu C. Highly efficient nitrogen fixation over S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with enhanced active hydrogen supply. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae093. [PMID: 38577667 PMCID: PMC10989659 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Photocatalytic N2 fixation is a promising strategy for ammonia (NH3) synthesis; however, it suffers from relatively low ammonia yield due to the difficulty in the design of photocatalysts with both high charge transfer efficiency and desirable N2 adsorption/activation capability. Herein, an S-scheme CoSx/ZnS heterojunction with dual active sites is designed as an efficient N2 fixation photocatalyst. The CoSx/ZnS heterojunction exhibits a unique pocket-like nanostructure with small ZnS nanocrystals adhered on a single-hole CoSx hollow dodecahedron. Within the heterojunction, the electronic interaction between ZnS and CoSx creates electron-deficient Zn sites with enhanced N2 chemisorption and electron-sufficient Co sites with active hydrogen supply for N2 hydrogenation, cooperatively reducing the energy barrier for N2 activation. In combination with the promoted photogenerated electron-hole separation of the S-scheme heterojunction and facilitated mass transfer by the pocket-like nanostructure, an excellent N2 fixation performance with a high NH3 yield of 1175.37 μmol g-1 h-1 is achieved. This study provides new insights into the design of heterojunction photocatalysts for N2 fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Bao
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yamin Xi
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chaoqi Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Peiyang Du
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yitong Xiang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ling Yuan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chengzhong Yu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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15
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Li J, Wang B, Wang H, Jia J, Zhang J, Zhang L, Tu M, Li H, Xu C. Ru-Doped Ultrasmall Cu Nanoparticles Decorated with Carbon for Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:3955-3961. [PMID: 38334267 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c04446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction offers a sustainable approach to treating wastewater and synthesizing high-value ammonia under ambient conditions. However, electrocatalysts with low faradaic efficiency and selectivity severely hinder the development of nitrate-to-ammonia conversion. Herein, Ru-doped ultrasmall copper nanoparticles loaded on a carbon substrate (Cu-Ru@C) were fabricated by the pyrolysis of Cu-BTC metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The Cu-Ru@C-0.5 catalyst exhibits a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 90.4% at -0.6 V (vs RHE) and an ammonia yield rate of 1700.36 μg h-1mgcat.-1 at -0.9 V (vs RHE). Moreover, the nitrate conversion rate is almost 100% over varied pHs (including acid, neutral, and alkaline electrolytes) and different nitrate concentrations. The remarkable performance is attributed to the synergistic effect between Cu and Ru and the excellent conductivity of the carbon substrate. This work will open an exciting avenue to exploring MOF derivatives for ambient ammonia synthesis via selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Binglei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Huijiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jinzhi Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jinhua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Lanyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mudong Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Cailing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Laboratory of Special Function Materials and Structure Design of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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16
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Ren Y, You S, Wang Y, Yang J, Liu Y. Bioinspired Tandem Electrode for Selective Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Ammonia from Aqueous Nitrate. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2144-2152. [PMID: 38234209 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) has recently emerged as a promising technique for readily converting aqueous nitrate (NO3-) pollutants into valuable ammonia (NH3). It is vital to thoroughly understand the mechanism of the reaction to rationally design and construct advanced electrocatalytic systems that can effectively and selectively drive the NO3RR. There are several natural enzymes that incorporate molybdenum (Mo) and that can activate NO3-. Based on this, a cadmium (Cd) single-atom anchored Mo2TiC2Tx electrocatalyst (referred to as CdSA-Mo2TiC2Tx) through the NO3RR to generate NH3 was rationally designed and demonstrated. In an H-type electrolysis cell and at a current density of 42.5 mA cm-2, the electrocatalyst had a Faradaic efficiency of >95% and an impressive NH3 yield rate of 48.5 mg h-1 cm-2. Moreover, the conversion of NO3- to NH3 on the CdSA-Mo2TiC2Tx surface was further revealed by operando attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and an electrochemical differential mass spectrometer. The electrocatalyst significantly outperformed Mo2TiC2Tx as well as reported state-of-the-art catalysts. Density functional theory calculations revealed that CdSA-Mo2TiC2Tx decreased the ability of the d-p orbital to hybridize with NH3* intermediates, thereby decreasing the activation energy of the potential-determining step. This work not only highlights the application prospects of heavy metal single-atom catalysts in the NO3RR but also provides examples of bio-inspired electrocatalysts for the synthesis of NH3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Ren
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Shijie You
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianping Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yanbiao Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
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17
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Wu Q, Zhu F, Wallace G, Yao X, Chen J. Electrocatalysis of nitrogen pollution: transforming nitrogen waste into high-value chemicals. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:557-565. [PMID: 38099452 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00714f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
On 16 June 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme highlighted the severity of nitrogen pollution faced by humans and called for joint action for sustainable nitrogen use. Excess nitrogenous waste (NW: NO, NO2, NO2-, NO3-, etc.) mainly arises from the use of synthetic fertilisers, wastewater discharge, and fossil fuel combustion. Although the amount of NW produced can be minimised by reducing the use of nitrogen fertilisers and fossil fuels, the necessity to feed seven billion people on Earth limits the utility of this approach. Compared to current industrial processes, electrocatalytic NW reduction or CO2-NW co-reduction offers a potentially greener alternative for recycling NW and producing high-value chemicals. However, upgrading this technology to connect upstream and downstream industrial chains is challenging. This viewpoint focuses on electrocatalytic NW reduction, a cutting-edge technology, and highlights the challenges in its practical application. It also discusses future directions to meet the requirements of upstream and downstream industries by optimising production processes, including the pretreatment and supply of nitrogenous raw materials (e.g. flue gas and sewage), design and macroscopic preparation of electrocatalysts, and upscaling of reactors and other auxiliary equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilong Wu
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
| | - Fangfang Zhu
- School of Advanced Energy, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, P. R. China.
| | - Gordon Wallace
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
| | - Xiangdong Yao
- School of Advanced Energy, Shenzhen Campus, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, P. R. China.
| | - Jun Chen
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
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18
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Zheng X, Tian Z, Bouchal R, Antonietti M, López-Salas N, Odziomek M. Tin (II) Chloride Salt Melts as Non-Innocent Solvents for the Synthesis of Low-Temperature Nanoporous Oxo-Carbons for Nitrate Electrochemical Hydrogenation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2311575. [PMID: 38152896 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Carbonaceous electrocatalysts offer advantages over metal-based counterparts, being cost-effective, sustainable, and electrochemically stable. Their high surface area increases reaction kinetics, making them valuable for environmental applications involving contaminant removal. However, their rational synthesis is challenging due to the applied high temperatures and activation steps, leading to disordered materials with limited control over doping. Here, a new synthetic pathway using carbon oxide precursors and tin chloride as a p-block metal salt melt is presented. As a result, highly porous oxygen-rich carbon sheets (with a surface area of 1600 m2 g-1 ) are obtained at relatively low temperatures (400 °C). Mechanistic studies reveal that Sn(II) triggers reductive deoxygenation and concomitant condensation/cross-linking, facilitated by the Sn(II) → Sn(IV) transition. Due to their significant surface area and oxygen doping, these materials demonstrate exceptional electrocatalytic activity in the nitrate-to-ammonia conversion, with an ammonia yield rate of 221 mmol g-1 h-1 and a Faradic efficiency of 93%. These results surpass those of other carbon-based electrocatalysts. In situ Raman studies reveal that the reaction occurs through electrochemical hydrogenation, where active hydrogen is provided by water reduction. This work contributes to the development of carbonaceous electrocatalysts with enhanced performance for sustainable environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Zheng
- Colloid Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Zhihong Tian
- Engineering Research Center for Nanomaterials, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, P. R. China
| | - Roza Bouchal
- Colloid Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus Antonietti
- Colloid Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Nieves López-Salas
- Colloid Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Sustainable Materials Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Strasse 100, 30098, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Mateusz Odziomek
- Colloid Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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