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Zhang J, Feng J, Zhu J, Kang L, Liu L, Guo F, Li J, Li K, Chen J, Zong W, Liu M, Chen R, Parkin IP, Mai L, He G. Regulating Reconstruction-Engineered Active Sites for Accelerated Electrocatalytic Conversion of Urea. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202407038. [PMID: 38871655 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202407038] [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: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Reconstruction-engineered electrocatalysts with enriched high active Ni species for urea oxidation reaction (UOR) have recently become promising candidates for energy conversion. However, to inhibit the over-oxidation of urea brought by the high valence state of Ni, tremendous efforts are devoted to obtaining low-value products of nitrogen gas to avoid toxic nitrite formation, undesirably causing inefficient utilization of the nitrogen cycle. Herein, we proposed a mediation engineering strategy to significantly boost high-value nitrite formation to help close a loop for the employment of a nitrogen economy. Specifically, platinum-loaded nickel phosphides (Pt-Ni2P) catalysts exhibit a promising nitrite production rate (0.82 mol kWh-1 cm-2), high stability over 66 h of Zn-urea-air battery operation, and 135 h of co-production of nitrite and hydrogen under 200 mA cm-2 in a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) system. The in situ spectroscopic characterizations and computational calculations demonstrated that the urea oxidation kinetics is facilitated by enriched dynamic Ni3+ active sites, thus augmenting the "cyanate" UOR pathway. The C-N cleavage was further verified as the rate-determining step for nitrite generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichao Zhang
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Jianrui Feng
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Jiexin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Liqun Kang
- Department of Inorganic Spectroscopy, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Stiftstr. 34-36, 45470, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - Longxiang Liu
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH
| | - Fei Guo
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Jing Li
- Materials Research Institute, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Kaiqi Li
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Jie Chen
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Wei Zong
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Mingqiang Liu
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Ruwei Chen
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Ivan P Parkin
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Liqiang Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Guanjie He
- Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London (UCL), 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
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2
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Jang W, Oh D, Lee J, Kim J, Matthews JE, Kim H, Lee SW, Lee S, Xu Y, Yu JM, Hwang SW, Jaramillo TF, Jang JW, Cho S. Homogeneously Mixed Cu-Co Bimetallic Catalyst Derived from Hydroxy Double Salt for Industrial-Level High-Rate Nitrate-to-Ammonia Electrosynthesis. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39177778 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c07061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) presents an innovative approach for sustainable NH3 production. However, selective NH3 production is hindered by the multiple intermediates involved in the NO3RR process and the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. Hence, the development of highly efficient NO3RR catalysts is paramount. Herein, we report highly efficient bimetallic catalysts derived from hydroxy double salt (HDS). Under NO3RR conditions, Cu1Co1-HDS undergoes in situ reconstruction, forming nanocomposites of homogeneously distributed metallic Cu0 and Co(OH)2. Reconstruction-induced Cu0 rapidly converts NO3- to NO2-, which is further hydrogenated to NH3 by Co(OH)2. Homogeneously mixed Cu and Co species maximize this synergistic effect, achieving outstanding NO3RR performance including the highest NH3 yield rate (4.625 mmol h-1 cm-2) reported for powder-type NO3RR catalysts. Integration of Cu1Co1-HDS with a commercial Si solar cell attained 4.53% solar-to-ammonia efficiency from industrial wastewater-level concentrations of NO3- (2000 ppm), demonstrating practical application potential for solar-driven NH3 production. This study provides a strategy for enhancing the NH3 yield rate by optimizing the compositions and distributions of Cu and Co.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsik Jang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongrak Oh
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongkyoung Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jesse E Matthews
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Hyoseok Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Won Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Seunghyun Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Je Min Yu
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon Woo Hwang
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Ji-Wook Jang
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungho Cho
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
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3
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Zhu A, Liu H, Bu S, Liu K, Luan C, Lin D, Gan G, Zhou Y, Zhang T, Liu K, Hong G, Li H, Zhang W. Facet-Dependent Evolution of Active Components on Spinel Co 3O 4 for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis. ACS NANO 2024; 18:22344-22355. [PMID: 39106490 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c06637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Spinel cobalt oxides (Co3O4) have emerged as a promising class of catalysts for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR) to ammonia, offering advantages such as low cost, high activity, and selectivity. However, the specific role of crystallographic facets in determining the catalysts' performance remains elusive, impeding the development of efficient catalysts. In this study, we have synthesized various Co3O4 nanostructures with exposed facets of {100}, {111}, {110}, and {112}, aiming to investigate the dependence of the eNO3RR activity on the crystallographic facets. Among the catalysts tested, Co3O4 {111} shows the best performance, achieving an ammonia Faradaic efficiency of 99.1 ± 1.8% with a yield rate of 35.2 ± 0.6 mg h-1 cm-2 at -0.6 V vs RHE. Experimental and theoretical results reveal a transformation process in which the active phases evolve from Co3O4 to Co3O4-x with oxygen vacancy (Ov), followed by a Co3O4-x-Ov/Co(OH)2 hybrid, and finally Co(OH)2. This process is observed for all facets, but the formation of Ov and Co(OH)2 is the most rapid on the (111) surface. The presence of Ov significantly reduces the free energy of the *NH2 intermediate formation from 1.81 to -0.53 eV, and plentiful active sites on the densely reconstructed Co(OH)2 make Co3O4 {111} an ideal catalyst for ammonia synthesis via eNO3RR. This work provides insights into the understanding of the realistic active components, offers a strategy for developing highly efficient Co-based spinel catalysts for ammonia synthesis through tuning the exposed facets, and helps further advance the design and optimization of catalysts in the field of eNO3RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anquan Zhu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Heng Liu
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Shuyu Bu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Chuhao Luan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Dewu Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Guoqiang Gan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yin Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Tian Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Kunlun Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Guo Hong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Hao Li
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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4
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Li D, Wu S, Yan J, Zhao D, Li Q, Li R, Fan G. Nickel-cobalt alloy nanosheet-decorated three-dimensional titanium dioxide nanobelts electrodeposited on titanium meshes for boosting selective nitrate electroreduction to ammonia. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 677:853-861. [PMID: 39173517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.08.105] [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: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction presents a promising avenue for environmentally friendly ammonia (NH3) synthesis and wastewater treatment. An essential aspect to consider is the meticulous design of electrocatalysts. This study explores the utilization of a Ni-Co alloy nanosheet-decorated three-dimensional titanium dioxide (3D-TiO2) nanobelts electrodeposited on titanium meshes (NixCoy@TiO2/TM) for efficient electrocatalytic NH3 production. The optimized Ni1Co3@TiO2/TM electrode achieves a significant NH3 yield of 676.3 ± 27.1 umol h-1 cm-2 with an impressive Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 95.1 % ± 2.1 % in a 0.1 M KOH solution containing 0.1 M NO3- at -0.4 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Additionally, the electrode demonstrates exceptional electrochemical activity for NH3 synthesis in simulated wastewater, delivering an outstanding NH3 yield of 751.6 ± 44.3 umol h-1 cm-2 with a FE of 96.8 % ± 0.4 % at the same potential of -0.4 V. Moreover, the electrode exhibits minimal variation in current density, NH3 yields and FEs throughout the 24-h stability test and the 20-cycle test, demonstrating its excellent stability and durability. This study offers a straightforward electrodeposited approach for the development of 3D-nanostructured alloys as catalysts for NH3 electrosynthesis from nitrates at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Song Wu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Jingwen Yan
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Donglin Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Quan Li
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Ruizhi Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Guangyin Fan
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China.
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5
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Zhou J, Zhao J, Song D, Liu J, Xu W, Li J, Wang N. Cascade Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia Using a Heterobimetallic Covalent Organic Framework Composed of Cu-Porphyrin and Co-Bipyridine. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:15177-15185. [PMID: 39088784 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c02553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate (NO3-) to ammonia (NH3) not only offers an effective solution to environmental problems caused by the accumulation of NO3- but also provides a sustainable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. However, the conversion of NO3- to NH3 is a complicated process involving multiple steps, leading to a low Faradaic efficiency (FE) for NH3 production. The structural designability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) renders feasible and precise modulation at the molecular level, facilitating the incorporation of multiple well-defined catalytic sites with different reactivities into a cohesive entity. This promotes the efficiency of the overall reaction through the coupling of multistep reactions. Herein, heterobimetallic CuP-CoBpy was prepared by postmodification, involving the anchoring of cobalt ions to the CuP-Bpy structure. As a result of the cascade effect of the bimetallic sites, CuP-CoBpy achieved an outstanding NH3 yield of 13.9 mg h-1 mgcat.-1 with a high FE of 96.7% at -0.70 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and exhibited excellent stability during catalysis. A series of experimental and theoretical studies revealed that the CuP unit facilitates the conversion of NO3- to NO2-, while the CoBpy moiety significantly prompts the reduction of NO2- to NH3. This study demonstrates that tailoring the structural units for the construction of COFs based on each step in the multistep reaction can enhance both the catalytic activity and product selectivity of the overall process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Jiani Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Dengmeng Song
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an 710065, China
| | - Jiquan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Wenhua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
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6
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Li J, Jiang Q, Xing X, Sun C, Wang Y, Wu Z, Xiong W, Li H. Surface Structure Reformulation from CuO to Cu/Cu(OH) 2 for Highly Efficient Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2404194. [PMID: 39119933 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202404194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO3 -) to ammonia (NH3) is a potential way to produce green NH3 and remediate the nitrogen cycle. In this paper, an efficient catalyst of spherical CuO made by stacking small particles with oxygen-rich vacancies is reported. The NH3 yield and Faraday efficiency are 15.53 mg h-1 mgcat -1 and 90.69%, respectively, in a neutral electrolyte at a voltage of -0.80 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). The high activity of the electrodes results from changes in the phase and structure during electrochemical reduction. Structurally, there is a shift from a spherical structure with dense accumulation of small particles to a layered network structure with uniform distribution of small particles stacked on top of each other, thus exposing more active sites. Furthermore, in terms of phase, the electrode transitions from CuO to Cu/Cu(OH)2. Density functional theory calculations showed that Cu(OH)2 formation enhances NO3- adsorption. Meanwhile, the Cu(OH)2 can inhibit the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, while the formation of Cu (111) crystal surfaces facilitates the hydrogenation reaction. The synergistic effect between the two promotes the NO3- to NH3. Therefore, this study provides a new idea and direction for Cu-based oxides in electrocatalytic NH3 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Qiuling Jiang
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Xiujing Xing
- Chemistry Department, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cuilian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Zhijian Wu
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Novel Biomass-Based Environmental and Energy Materials in Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor &Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, China
| | - Hao Li
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
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Shehzad A, Cui C, Cheng R, Luo Z. Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction to ammonia by atomically precise Cu 6 nanoclusters supported on graphene oxide. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:14441-14447. [PMID: 39012338 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01984a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) enables the production of ammonia by the use of renewable energy, providing a direct method for nitrogen fixation. Nevertheless, the NRR process under ambient conditions is often impeded by inertness of N2 and the occurrence of hydrogen evolution as a byproduct in aqueous electrolytes, resulting in a diminished reaction rate and reduced efficiency. In this study, we synthesized Cu6(SMPP)6 nanoclusters (Cu6 NCs for short) and immobilized them on graphene oxide (GO) to investigate their electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) using an H-cell setup. The GO-supported Cu6 NCs exhibit enhanced catalysis with a high NH3 yield rate of 4.8 μg h-1 cm-2 and a high faradaic efficiency up to 30.39% at -1.1 V. Quantum chemistry calculations reveal that the Cu6S6 cluster on GO support facilitates the N2 adsorption and NN bond activation with a surmountable energy barrier for the potential-determining step (N2* → NNH*).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamir Shehzad
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chaonan Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Ran Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhixun Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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8
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Liu X, Cheng X, Zhao H, Liu P, Wang YQ. CuCo 2O 4/CuO Heterostructure with Oxygen Vacancies Induced by Plasma for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:14093-14102. [PMID: 38994650 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3RR) to ammonia production is regarded as one of the potential alternatives for replacing the Haber-Bosch technology for realizing artificial ammonia synthesis. In this study, a CuCo2O4/CuO-Ar heterostructure in the shape of dandelion nanospheres formed by nanoarrays has been successfully constructed, demonstrating excellent NO3RR performance. Experimental results indicate that Ar plasma etching of CuCo2O4/CuO-Ar significantly increases the content of oxygen vacancies compared to the sample of CuCo2O4/CuO-Air etched by air plasma, resulting in improved NO3RR performance. Density functional theory calculations further confirm that the existence of more oxygen vacancies effectively decreases the energy barrier of nitrate adsorption, which is due to the generation of more oxygen vacancies facilitating nitrate adsorption and weakening the N-O bonds of nitrate after plasma treatment. As a result, CuCo2O4/CuO-Ar exhibits a high NH3 yield of 0.55 mmol h-1 cm-2 and a Faraday efficiency of 95.07% at the optimal potential of -0.9 V (vs RHE) in a neutral medium. Importantly, CuCo2O4/CuO-Ar also showcases excellent electrocatalytic stability. This study presents new views on the design and structure regulation of NO3RR electrocatalysts and their potential applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics of Rare Earth Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Xuetao Cheng
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics of Rare Earth Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Huilin Zhao
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics of Rare Earth Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics of Rare Earth Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Yan-Qin Wang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics of Rare Earth Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
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9
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Huang W, Luo W, Liu J, Jia BE, Lee C, Dong J, Yang L, Liu B, Yan Q. Cascade Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaching 100% Nitrate-N to Ammonia-N Conversion over Cu 2O@CoO Yolk-Shell Nanocubes. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 39069739 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c03995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia via a selective eight-electron transfer nitrate reduction reaction offers a promising, low energy consumption, pollution-free, green NH3 synthesis strategy alternative to the Haber-Bosch method. However, it remains a great challenge to achieve high NH4+ selectivity and complete conversion from NO3--N to NH4+-N. Herein, we report ingredients adjustable Cu2O@CoO yolk-shell nanocubes featured with tunable inner void spaces and diverse activity centers, favoring the rapid cascade conversion of NO3- into NO2- on Cu2O and NO2- into NH4+ on CoO. Cu2O@CoO yolk-shell nanocubes exhibit super NH4+ Faradaic efficiencies (>99%) over a wide potential window (-0.2 V to -0.9 V versus RHE) with a considerable NH4+ yield rate of 15.27 mg h-1 cm-2 and fantastic cycling stability and long-term chronoamperometric durability. Cu2O@CoO yolk-shell nanocubes exhibited glorious NO3--N to NH4+-N conversion efficiency in both dilute (500 ppm) and highly concentrated (0.1 and 1 M) NO3- electrolytes, respectively. The nitrate electrolysis membrane electrode assembly system equipped with Cu2O@CoO yolk-shell nanocubes delivers over 99.8% NH4+ Faradaic efficiency at cell voltages of 1.9-2.3 V.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Huang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Materials and Energy Storage Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Energy Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Wenyu Luo
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Jiawei Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Bei-Er Jia
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Carmen Lee
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Jinfeng Dong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Lan Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Institute of Clean Energy (HKICE) & Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Qingyu Yan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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10
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Qi R, Zhang L, Ren S, Shi B, Zhong M, Chen ZJ, Lu X. Interface Engineering of the Cu 1.5Mn 1.5O 4/CeO 2 Heterostructure for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:8964-8972. [PMID: 38985521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is considered a sustainable technology to convert the nitrate pollutants to ammonia. However, developing highly efficient electrocatalysts is necessary and challenging given the slow kinetics of the NO3RR with an eight-electron transfer process. Here, a Cu1.5Mn1.5O4 (CMO)/CeO2 heterostructure with rich interfaces is designed and fabricated through an electrospinning and postprocessing technique. Benefiting from the strong coupling between CMO and CeO2, the optimized CMO/CeO2-2 catalyst presents excellent NO3RR performance, with NH3 Faraday efficiency (FE) up to 93.07 ± 1.45% at -0.481 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and NH3 yield rate up to 48.06 ± 1.32 mg cm-2 h-1 at -0.681 V vs RHE. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the integration of CeO2 with CMO modulates the adsorption/desorption process of the reactants and intermediates, showing a reduced energy barrier in the rate determination step of NO* to N* and achieving an outstanding NO3RR performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruikai Qi
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Linfeng Zhang
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Siyu Ren
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Bingyan Shi
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Mengxiao Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, Key Laboratory of Advanced Gas Sensors, Jilin Province, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Zheng-Jie Chen
- Materials Science and Energy Engineering/Institute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Lu
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
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11
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Wang Y, Sun J, Sun N, Zhang M, Liu X, Zhang A, Wang L. The spin polarization strategy regulates heterogeneous catalytic activity performance: from fundamentals to applications. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:7397-7413. [PMID: 38946499 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc02012j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been significant attention towards the development of catalysts that exhibit superior performance and environmentally friendly attributes. This surge in interest is driven by the growing demands for energy utilization and storage as well as environmental preservation. Spin polarization plays a crucial role in catalyst design, comprehension of catalytic mechanisms, and reaction control, offering novel insights for the design of highly efficient catalysts. However, there are still some significant research gaps in the current study of spin catalysis. Therefore, it is urgent to understand how spin polarization impacts catalytic reactions to develop superior performance catalysts. Herein, we present a comprehensive summary of the application of spin polarization in catalysis. Firstly, we summarize the fundamental mechanism of spin polarization in catalytic reactions from two aspects of kinetics and thermodynamics. Additionally, we review the regulation mechanism of spin polarization in various catalytic applications and several approaches to modulate spin polarization. Moreover, we discuss the future development of spin polarization in catalysis and propose several potential avenues for further progress. We aim to improve current catalytic systems through implementing a novel and distinctive spin engineering strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Junkang Sun
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Ning Sun
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Mengyang Zhang
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Xianya Liu
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Anlei Zhang
- College of Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Longlu Wang
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering, Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NJUPT), Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
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12
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Gnanasekar P, Peramaiah K, Zhang H, Alsayoud IG, Subbiah AS, Babics M, Ng TK, Gan Q, De Wolf S, Huang KW, Ooi BS. Solar-Powered Gram-Scale Ammonia Production from Nitrate. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2404249. [PMID: 38953366 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202404249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The photoelectrochemical (PEC) method has the potential to be an attractive route for converting and storing solar energy as chemical bonds. In this study, a maximum NH3 production yield of 1.01 g L-1 with a solar-to-ammonia conversion efficiency of 8.17% through the photovoltaic electrocatalytic (PV-EC) nitrate (NO3 -) reduction reaction (NO3 -RR) is achieved, using silicon heterojunction solar cell technology. Additionally, the effect of tuning the operation potential of the PV-EC system and its influence on product selectivity are systematically investigated. By using this unique external resistance tuning approach in the PV-EC system, ammonia production through nitrate reduction performance from 96 to 360 mg L-1 is enhanced, a four-fold increase. Furthermore, the NH3 is extracted as NH4Cl powder using acid stripping, which is essential for storing chemical energy. This work demonstrates the possibility of tuning product selectivity in PV-EC systems, with prospects toward pilot scale on value-added product synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulraj Gnanasekar
- Photonics Laboratory, Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Karthik Peramaiah
- KAUST Catalysis Center, Division of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huafan Zhang
- Photonics Laboratory, Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim G Alsayoud
- Photonics Laboratory, Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anand S Subbiah
- KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory, KAUST Solar Center, Department of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maxime Babics
- KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory, KAUST Solar Center, Department of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tien Khee Ng
- Photonics Laboratory, Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qiaoqiang Gan
- Department of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefaan De Wolf
- KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory, KAUST Solar Center, Department of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kuo-Wei Huang
- KAUST Catalysis Center, Division of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Boon S Ooi
- Photonics Laboratory, Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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13
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Wei Y, Huang J, Chen H, Zheng SJ, Huang RW, Dong XY, Li LK, Cao A, Cai J, Zang SQ. Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction on Metallic CoNi-Terminated Catalyst with Industrial-Level Current Density in Neutral Medium. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2404774. [PMID: 38721927 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202404774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Green ammonia synthesis through electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR) can serve as an effective alternative to the traditional energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. However, achieving high Faradaic efficiency (FE) at industrially relevant current density in neutral medium poses significant challenges in eNO3RR. Herein, with the guidance of theoretical calculation, a metallic CoNi-terminated catalyst is successfully designed and constructed on copper foam, which achieves an ammonia FE of up to 100% under industrial-level current density and very low overpotential (-0.15 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode) in a neutral medium. Multiple characterization results have confirmed that the maintained metal atom-terminated surface through interaction with copper atoms plays a crucial role in reducing overpotential and achieving high current density. By constructing a homemade gas stripping and absorption device, the complete conversion process for high-purity ammonium nitrate products is demonstrated, displaying the potential for practical application. This work suggests a sustainable and promising process toward directly converting nitrate-containing pollutant solutions into practical nitrogen fertilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Wei
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Su-Jun Zheng
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ren-Wu Huang
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xi-Yan Dong
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003, China
| | - Lin-Ke Li
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ang Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Jinmeng Cai
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Shuang-Quan Zang
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
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14
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Liu Y, Zhang J, Bai R, Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Zhao X. Functional partitioning synergistically enhances multi-scenario nitrate reduction. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 675:526-534. [PMID: 38986326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.213] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The promising electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNitRR) for distributed ammonia synthesis requires the fine design of functionally compartmentalised and synergistically complementary integrated catalysts to meet the needs of low-cost and efficient ammonia synthesis. Herein, the partitionable CoP3 and Cu3P modules were built on the copper foam substrate, and the functional differentiation promoted the catalytic performance of the surface accordion-like CoP3/Cu3P@CF for eNitRR in complex water environment. Where the ammonia yield rate is as high as 23988.2 μg h-1 cm-2, and the Faradaic efficiency is close to 100 %. With CoP3/Cu3P@CF as the core, the assembled high-performance Zn-nitrate flow battery can realize the dual function of ammonia production and power supply, and can also realize the continuous production of ammonia with high selectivity driven by solar energy. The ammonia recovery reaches 753.9 mg L-1, which shows the superiority of CoP3/Cu3P@CF in multiple application scenarios and provides important experience for the vigorous development of eNitRR. Density functional theory calculation reveal that CoP3 and Cu3P sites play a relay synergistic role in eNitRR catalyzed by CoP3/Cu3P@CF. CoP3 first promotes the activation of NO3- to *NO3H, and then continuously provides proton hydrogen for the eNitRR on the surface of Cu3P, which relays the synergistic catalytic effect to promote the efficient conversion of NO3- to NH3. This study not only develops a catalyst that can promote the efficient reduction of NO3- to ammonia through an easy-to-obtain innovative strategy, but also provides an alternative strategy for the development of eNitRR that is suitable for multiple scenarios and meets the production conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelong Liu
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China
| | - Rui Bai
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China.
| | - Yingtang Zhou
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316004, China.
| | - Xue Zhao
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China.
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15
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Ghatak A, Shanker GS, Sappati S, Liberman I, Shimoni R, Hod I. Pendant Proton-Relays Systematically Tune the Rate and Selectivity of Electrocatalytic Ammonia Generation in a Fe-Porphyrin Based Metal-Organic Framework. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202407667. [PMID: 38923372 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202407667] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrite reduction (eNO2RR) is a promising alternative route to produce ammonia (NH3). Until now, several molecular catalysts have shown capability to homogeneously reduce nitrite to NH3, while taking advantage of added secondary-sphere functionalities to direct catalytic performance. Yet, realizing such control over heterogeneous electrocatalytic surfaces remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate that heterogenization of a Fe-porphyrin molecular catalyst within a 2D Metal-Organic Framework (MOF), allows efficient eNO2RR to NH3. On top of that, installation of pendant proton relaying moieties proximal to the catalytic site, resulted in significant improvement in catalytic activity and selectivity. Notably, systematic manipulation of NH3 faradaic efficiency (up to 90 %) and partial current (5-fold increase) was achieved by varying the proton relay-to-catalyst molar ratio. Electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis show that the proton relays simultaneously aid in generating and stabilizing of reactive Fe-bound NO intermediate. Thus, this concept offers new molecular tools to tune heterogeneous electrocatalytic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Ghatak
- Department of Chemistry and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - G Shiva Shanker
- Department of Chemistry and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Subrahmanyam Sappati
- BioTechMed Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Itamar Liberman
- Department of Chemistry and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Ran Shimoni
- Department of Chemistry and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Idan Hod
- Department of Chemistry and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
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16
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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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17
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Li Z, Wu Y, Wang H, Wu Z, Wu X. High-Efficiency Electrocatalytic Reduction of N 2O with Single-Atom Cu Supported on Nitrogen-Doped Carbon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8976-8987. [PMID: 38653761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00765] [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: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential, emphasizing the critical need to develop efficient elimination methods. Electrocatalytic N2O reduction reaction (N2ORR) stands out as a promising approach, offering room temperature conversion of N2O to N2 without the production of NOx byproducts. In this study, we present the synthesis of a copper-based single-atom catalyst featuring atomic Cu on nitrogen-doped carbon black (Cu1-NCB). Attributed to the highly dispersed single-atom Cu sites and the effective suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction, Cu1-NCB demonstrated an optimal N2 faradaic efficiency (82.1%) and yield rate (3.53 mmol h-1 mgmetal-1) at -0.2 and -0.5 V vs RHE, respectively, outperforming previously reported N2ORR electrocatalysts. Further, a gas diffusion electrode cell was employed to improve mass transfer and achieved a 28.6% conversion rate of 30% N2O with only a 14 s residence time, demonstrating the potential for practical application. Density functional theory calculations identified Cu-N4 as the crucial active site for N2ORR, highlighting the significance of the unsaturated coordination and metal-support electronic structure. O-terminal adsorption of N2O was favored, and the dissociative adsorption (*ON2 → *O + N2) was the rate-determining step. These findings reveal the broad prospects of N2O decomposition via electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Li
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yunshuo Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Haiqiang Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhongbiao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xuanhao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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18
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Mushtaq MA, Kumar A, Liu W, Ji Q, Deng Y, Yasin G, Saad A, Raza W, Zhao J, Ajmal S, Wu Y, Ahmad M, Lashari NUR, Wang Y, Li T, Sun S, Zheng D, Luo Y, Cai X, Sun X. A Metal Coordination Number Determined Catalytic Performance in Manganese Borides for Ambient Electrolysis of Nitrogen to Ammonia. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2313086. [PMID: 38341608 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
A new strategy that can effectively increase the nitrogen reduction reaction performance of catalysts is proposed and verified by tuning the coordination number of metal atoms. It is found that the intrinsic activity of Mn atoms in the manganese borides (MnBx) increases in tandem with their coordination number with B atoms. Electron-deficient boron atoms are capable of accepting electrons from Mn atoms, which enhances the adsorption of N2 on the Mn catalytic sites (*) and the hydrogenation of N2 to form *NNH intermediates. Furthermore, the increase in coordination number reduces the charge density of Mn atoms at the Fermi level, which facilitates the desorption of ammonia from the catalyst surface. Notably, the MnB4 compound with a Mn coordination number of up to 12 exhibits a high ammonia yield rate (74.9 ± 2.1 µg h-1 mgcat -1) and Faradaic efficiency (38.5 ± 2.7%) at -0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in a 0.1 m Li2SO4 electrolyte, exceeding those reported for other boron-related catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asim Mushtaq
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Anuj Kumar
- Nano-Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, 281406, India
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Qianqian Ji
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Yonggui Deng
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Ghulam Yasin
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Ali Saad
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Waseem Raza
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Saira Ajmal
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Yanyan Wu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Muhammad Ahmad
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Najeeb Ur Rehman Lashari
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Tingshuai Li
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Shengjun Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Dongdong Zheng
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Yongsong Luo
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Xingke Cai
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, China
| | - Xuping Sun
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
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19
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Shafiq F, Yang L, Zhu W. Recent progress in the advanced strategies, rational design, and engineering of electrocatalysts for nitrate reduction toward ammonia. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:11208-11216. [PMID: 38564180 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00659c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Ammonia is a valuable feedstock for most chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizer products. It is a promising carbon-free energy source. Under severe experimental circumstances (high temperature and high pressure), ammonia is manufactured industrially using the standard Haber-Bosch process. This process uses a lot of energy and emits a huge amount of CO2 into the environment. One method that is seen to be promising and could eventually replace the Haber-Bosch process is the electrocatalytic production of ammonia. However, in ambient conditions, the cleavage of the nitrogen molecule is exceedingly difficult. As a result, the yield of ammonia remains modest and the study's scope is still restricted to the lab. When the catalytic performance is significantly increased, nitrate and nitrite contaminations in water systems can be effectively removed and simultaneously transformed into energy sources if nitrites or nitrates are employed as nitrogen sources instead of nitrogen gas. This may become a new substitute for the synthesis of ammonia, but nitrate and nitrite reduction are not getting enough attention. In this review, we discuss the performance of the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction, which includes cycling stability, reactivity, selectivity, and faradaic efficiency. Following this summary, we look into the crucial elements, the rate-determining step, and the reaction mechanisms that govern the performance of the nitrate reduction reaction. In order to support the practical use of the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction, we finally provided a summary of the challenges and future directions guiding the design of efficient catalyst and reaction systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Shafiq
- Institute for Computation in Molecular and Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Lei Yang
- Institute for Computation in Molecular and Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Weihua Zhu
- Institute for Computation in Molecular and Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
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