Ti nano electrode fabrication for electrochemical denitrification using Box–Behnken design

A zero energy-input nitrogen removal reactor based on a short-circuited microfluidic fuel cell

Excessive discharge of ammonia nitrogen would deteriorate water quality. In this work, we designed an innovative microfluidic electrochemical nitrogen-removal reactor (MENR) based on a short-circuited ammonia-air microfluidic fuel cell (MFC). The MENR utilizes the laminar characteristics of two flows (an anolyte containing nitrogen-rich wastewater and a catholyte of acid electrolyte solution) in a microchannel to establish an efficient reactor system. At anode, ammonia was catalyzed by a NiCu/C modified electrode to N2, while O2 in the air was reduced at cathode. In essence, the MENR reactor is a short-circuited MFC. Maximum discharge currents were achieved accompanied with strong ammonia oxidation reaction. Factors indicating electrolyte flow rate, initial nitrogen concentration, electrolyte concentration, and electrode geometry have various effects on the nitrogen removal performance of the MENR. Results indicate that the MENR showed efficient nitrogen removal properties. This work proposes an energy-saving process by using the MENR to remove nitrogen from ammonia-rich wastewater.

Revealing the pH-dependent mechanism of nitrate electrochemical reduction to ammonia on single-atom catalysts

Nitrate electrochemical reduction to ammonia (NO₃RR) catalyzed by single-atom catalysts (SACs) is an attractive and efficient way for solving the problem of nitrate pollution in water and obtaining valuable product ammonia through low temperature synthesis. It is well known that the pH conditions can be regulated to tune the performance of NO₃RR, however, there have been few studies aimed at gaining theoretical insight into the origin of pH-dependent catalytic performance among SACs. Herein, taking 3d-transition metal (Fe, Co, Ni and Mn) single-atoms supported on diverse anchor sites of MoS₂ as an example (SA-MoS₂), we explore the activity and selectivity for NO₃RR towards ammonia (NH₃ and NH₄⁺) under different pH conditions by density functional theory calculations. It is found that priority reaction pathways, the potential determining step and limiting potentials of SA-MoS₂ exhibit pH-dependent characteristics, which can be described by a contour map of catalytic reactivity, spanned by adsorption free energies (G_NO* and G_NH2*), and further determined by local coordination environment and electronic states of active sites. Our three-step screening method reveals that the Co single-atom adsorbed MoS₂ edge catalyst is the most promising catalyst among the studied SA-MoS₂ because of its low limiting potential (-0.3-0.4 V, RHE), excellent selectivity in the competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as stability against aggregation and electrochemical dissolution across the full pH range. This work demonstrates a theoretical insight into the pH-dependent mechanism of supported SA catalyzed NO₃RR, which proposes a screening strategy for finding new SACs, and provides motivation for further experimental exploration.

Flexible 2D Cu Metal: Organic Framework@MXene Film Electrode with Excellent Durability for Highly Selective Electrocatalytic NH3 Synthesis

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (ENRA) is an effective strategy to resolve environmental and energy crisis, but there are still great challenges to achieve high activity and stability synergistically for practical application in a fluid environment. The flexible film electrode may solve the abovementioned problem of practical catalytic application owing to the advantages of low cost, light weight, eco-friendliness, simple and scalable fabrication, extensive structural stability, and electrocatalytic reliability. Herein, 2D hybridization copper 1,4-benzenedi-carboxylate (CuBDC) has been grown on electronegative MXene nanosheets (Ti₃C₂T_x) seamlessly to prepare a 2D flexible CuBDC@Ti₃C₂T_x electrode for ENRA. The flexible electrode simultaneously exhibits high Faradaic efficiency (86.5%) and excellent stability for NH₃ synthesis, which are comparable to previously reported nanomaterials toward ENRA. Especially, the flexible electrode maintains outstanding FE _NH3 toward ENRA after the bending, twisting, folding, and crumpling tests, indicating excellent electroconductibility, high stability, and durability. This work not only provides mild permeation-mediated strategy to fabricate a flexible electrode but also explores the practical applications of the electrode with effectively environmental adaptability in solving global environmental contamination and energy crisis by effective ENRA.

Ti plate with TiO2 nanotube arrays as a novel cathode for nitrate reduction

The purpose of this research is to investigate the possibility of using a Ti plate with TiO₂ nanotube arrays as a novel cathode for nitrate reduction. TiO₂ nanotube arrays were grown on a Ti plate by anodization in a glycerol based electrolyte and annealed to change their crystallographic structure. Morphological and crystallographic structures of Ti plates with a TiO₂ nanotubular layer were analysed before and after anodization or annealing by using energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and X-ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were also performed to test the electrochemical reactivity towards nitrate reduction. A lab-scale electrochemical reactor with a RuO₂/Ti anode and a Ti plate with a TiO₂ nanotubular layer as a cathode was operated to treat synthetic wastewater containing up to 600 mg L^-1 of NO₃-N. The Ti plate with a TiO₂ nanotubular layer was compared with other cathodes such as Ti, Cu, Ni, and Stainless Steel. The Ti plate with an anatase TiO₂ nanotubular layer with a layer thicknesses greater than 45 μm was able to show the most efficient nitrate reduction.

Fabrication and characterization of a Ni-TNTA bimetallic nanoelectrode to electrochemically remove nitrate from groundwater

A novel Ni-TiO₂ nanotube array (Ni-TNTA) bimetallic nanometer electrode was developed. The electrode fabrication method was optimized, and the Ni-TNTA bimetallic nanoelectrode was used to efficiently remove nitrate from groundwater. The Ni-TNTA bimetallic nanoelectrode was prepared via an electrochemical method, chemical bath deposition method and calcining method. When the current density was 30 mA cm^-2 after 90 min of electrolysis, the removal rate of nitrate was as high as 93.4%, whereas the removal rate of a TiO₂ nanoelectrode made via the traditional method was only 56.0%. Under the same conditions, the newly developed Ni-TNTA bimetallic nanoelectrode increased the removal rate of nitrate by 66.8%. The results showed that the removal rate of nitrate was the highest when the Ni-TNTA bimetallic nanoelectrode was prepared with a 10 min chemical bath and calcination at 500 °C. The effect of the electrode on the removal rate of nitrate was investigated for different current densities, initial concentrations, temperature and pH. When the solution was alkaline, the removal efficiency of nitrate improved. When the current density and temperature increased, the removal rate of nitrate accordingly increased. However, as the initial concentration of the solution increased, the removal rate of nitrate decreased. An IrO₂ electrode was used as the anode, the Ni-TNTA bimetallic nanoelectrode was used as the cathode, and 0.3 g L^-1 NaCl was added into the solution. The removal rate of nitrate was 89.6% after 90 min of electrolysis and barely produced nitrite or ammonia.

Efficient nano titanium electrode via a two-step electrochemical anodization with reconstructed nanotubes: Electrochemical activity and stability

A two-step anodization method was used to prepare an efficient nano Ti electrode (ENTE), based on the nano Ti electrode (NTE) that was synthesized by the traditional anodization method. The result of FESEM showed there were many nanopores and nanoparticles on the surface of the ENTE. Compared with Ti electrode, the ENTE exhibited an increased electrochemical activity of nitrate reduction, attributing to its ∼1.09-fold higher reduction peak current density. Values of average current efficiency towards nitrate reduction indicated that the electrochemical properties of different electrodes were raised in the order of ENTE (0.36) > NTE (0.25) > Ti electrode (0.15). The ENTE exhibited a ∼3.33-fold higher electroactive surface area than that of Ti electrode. The higher current density throughout the 1000 s and the ∼1.27-fold higher final current density at 1000 s suggested that the ENTE had a higher stability for nitrate electroreduction. The nitrate reduction efficiency increased with the increasing of initial nitrate-nitrogen concentration and temperature. Similar effect was obtained from current density below 50 mA cm^-2. And under the neutral condition, a higher nitrate reduction efficiency was achieved. The curved surface and higher surface area due to the nanopores of the ENTE increased the nitrate concentration in the EDL and enhanced the potential of individual nitrate ions in the diffuse layer exponentially. This research provided a new route to assess a nano-electrode with high stability and a clear reaction mechanism in EDL.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction by using a novel Co3O4/Ti cathode

Co₃O₄ film coated on Ti substrate is prepared using sol-gel method and applied as cathode material for electrochemical denitrification in this research. Preparation conditions including precursor coating times and calcination temperature are optimized based on NO₃^--N removal, NO₂^--N generation, NH₄⁺-N generation and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiencies. The influences of electrolysis parameters such as current density and NO₃^--N initial concentration are also investigated. In comparison with other common researched cathodes (Ti, Cu and Fe₂O₃/Ti), Co₃O₄/Ti exhibits better NO₃^--N removal and NH₄⁺-N generation efficiencies. In order to remove NO₃^--N completely from water, Cl^- is added to help further oxidize NH₄⁺-N to N₂. TN removal after 3 h treatment increases from 65% to 80%, 90% and 96% with the increase of Cl^- from 0 mg L^-1 to 500, 1000 and 1500 mg L^-1, respectively. The mechanisms of NO₃^--N reduction on cathode and NH₄⁺-N oxidation on anode in the absence and presence of Cl^- are investigated in a double-cell reactor. Actual textile wastewater containing both NO₃^- and Cl^- is also treated and the Co₃O₄/Ti cathode exhibits excellent stability and reliability. It is interesting to find out that FeCl₂-H₂O₂ Fenton pretreatment is needed to remove extra COD and provide more Cl^- to help oxidize NH₄⁺-N to N₂ at the same time.