Cu/NiO nanorods for efficiently promoting the electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

Abstract

A Cu/NiO-NF electrocatalyst is successfully fabricated, in which the synergistic effect between Cu and NiO resulted in a boosted performance of the electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia (ENO3RR) under neutral conditions.

Mixed-valence Cu-based heterostructures for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

“…2 Copper (Cu) is regarded as one of the most active metals for the NO 3 RR since it exhibits high current density and superior kinetics for the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. 6–12 This is attributed to similar d-orbital energy levels of Cu to the lowest unoccupied molecular π* orbital (LUMO π*) of NO 3 − , thereby facilitating electron transfer. 13 Moreover, Cu-based catalysts, with the characters of low cost, high conductivity, and inferior activity for the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), are ideal candidates for the electrochemical NO 3 RR to ammonia.…”