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Zhang H, Wang H, Cao X, Chen M, Liu Y, Zhou Y, Huang M, Xia L, Wang Y, Li T, Zheng D, Luo Y, Sun S, Zhao X, Sun X. Unveiling Cutting-Edge Developments in Electrocatalytic Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312746. [PMID: 38198832 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The excessive enrichment of nitrate in the environment can be converted into ammonia (NH3) through electrochemical processes, offering significant implications for modern agriculture and the potential to reduce the burden of the Haber-Bosch (HB) process while achieving environmentally friendly NH3 production. Emerging research on electrocatalytic nitrate reduction (eNitRR) to NH3 has gained considerable momentum in recent years for efficient NH3 synthesis. However, existing reviews on nitrate reduction have primarily focused on limited aspects, often lacking a comprehensive summary of catalysts, reaction systems, reaction mechanisms, and detection methods employed in nitrate reduction. This review aims to provide a timely and comprehensive analysis of the eNitRR field by integrating existing research progress and identifying current challenges. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the research progress achieved using various materials in electrochemical nitrate reduction, elucidates the underlying theoretical mechanism behind eNitRR, and discusses effective strategies based on numerous case studies to enhance the electrochemical reduction from NO3 - to NH3. Finally, this review discusses challenges and development prospects in the eNitRR field with an aim to guide design and development of large-scale sustainable nitrate reduction electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316004, China
| | - Haijian Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316004, China
| | - Xiqian Cao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316004, China
| | - Mengshan Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316004, China
| | - Yuelong Liu
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650092, China
| | - Yingtang Zhou
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316004, China
| | - Ming Huang
- Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610054, China
| | - Lu Xia
- ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Barcelona, 08860, Spain
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - Shengjun Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Xue Zhao
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650092, 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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Chen Y, He J, Pang H, Yu D, Jiang P, Hao X, Zhang J. Electrochemical denitrification by a recyclable cobalt oxide cathode: Rapid recovery and selective catalysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132870. [PMID: 37924706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Cathodic aging and fouling have presented significant challenges in the realm of electrochemical denitrification for engineering applications. This study focused on the development of an economical and recyclable nanoporous Co3O4/Co cathode through anodization for nitrate reduction. What distinguished our cathode was its exceptional sustainability. Cobalt from the inactive catalyst could be reclaimed onto the substrate, enabling the regeneration of a new Co3O4 layer. This innovative approach resulted in an exceptionally low Co catalyst consumption, a mere 1.936 g/1 kg N, making it the most cost-effective choice among all Co-based cathodes. The Co3O4 catalyst exhibited a truncated octahedron structure, primarily composed of surface Co2+ ions. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that the bonding between the O atom in NO3- ions and the Co atom in Co3O4 was thermodynamically favorable, with a free energy of - 0.89 eV. Co2+ ions acted as "electron porters" facilitating electron transfer through a redox circle Co2+-Co3+-Co2+. However, the presence of two energy barriers (*NH2NO to *N2 and *N2 to N2) with respective heights of 0.83 eV and 1.17 eV resulted in a N2 selectivity of 9.84% and an NH3 selectivity of 90.02%. In actual wastewater treatment, approximately 78% of TN and 93% of NO3- were successfully removed after 3 h, consistent with the prediction kinetic model. This anodization-based strategy offers a significant advantage in terms of long-term cost and presents a new paradigm for electrode sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China.
| | - Junguo He
- School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Heliang Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Dehai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Peigeng Jiang
- North China Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd, Tianjin 300202, China Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xiujuan Hao
- School of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010051, PR China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (SKLUWRE), School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
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Li X, Deng P, Xu M, Peng Z, Zhou Y, Jia G, Ye W, Gao P, Wang W. Multi-layer core-shell metal oxide/nitride/carbon and its high-rate electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14439-14447. [PMID: 37642315 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02972g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia is both an alternative strategy to industrial Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis and a prospective idea for changing waste (nitrate pollution of groundwater around the world) into valuable chemicals, but still hindered by its in-process strongly competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), low ammonia conversion efficiency, and the absence of stability and sustainability. Considering the unique electronic structure of anti-perovskite structured Fe4N, a tandem disproportionation reaction and nitridation-carbonation route for building a multi-layer core-shell oxide/nitride/C catalyst, such as MoO2/Fe4N/C, is designed and executed, in which abundant Fe-N active sites and rich phase interfaces are in situ formed for both suppressing HER and fast transport of electrons and reaction intermediates. As a result, the sample's NO3RR conversion displays a very high NH3 yield rate of up to 11.10 molNH3 gcat.-1 h-1 (1.67 mmol cm-2 h-1) with a superior 99.3% faradaic efficiency and the highest half-cell energy efficiency of 30%, surpassing that of most previous reports. In addition, it is proved that the NO3RR assisted by the MoO2/Fe4N/C electrocatalyst can be carried out in 0.50-1.00 M KNO3 electrolyte at a pH value of 6-14 for a long time. These results guide the rational design of highly active, selective, and durable electrocatalysts based on anti-perovskite Fe4N for the NO3RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Li
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Ping Deng
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Mengqiu Xu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Zhenbo Peng
- Zhejiang Collaborative Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Byproducts from Ethylene Project, Ningbo Polytechnic, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Yuhu Zhou
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Gan Jia
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Wei Ye
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Peng Gao
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China.
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Li J, Tan W, Li X, Zhang P, Jin P, Fan J, Li K. Silver Ion-Facilitated Singular Poulos-Kraut Mechanism of O-O Heterolysis to Enhance the Light Activation of H 2O 2 over Peroxidase-Mimicking Photonanozymes. Anal Chem 2023; 95:12435-12442. [PMID: 37566745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The Poulos-Kraut heterolytic O-O cleavage mechanism is essential for natural peroxidases to activate H2O2. Current existing peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes, including photonanozymes (PNZs), however, are generally believed to prefer the Fenton-type mechanism of O-O homolysis, which produces •OH radicals. Here, Ag+ ions are introduced into TiO2 PNZs to boost the hot hole-driven O-O heterolysis for the expedited H2O2 activation in the peroxidase-like photonanozymatic reaction while inhibiting the Fenton-type O-O homolysis. The Ag+-facilitated Poulos-Kraut heterolytic O-O cleavage mechanism for H2O2 activation is explicated in terms of the speedy capture and exhaustion of photogenerated electrons by Ag+ and the dissociation of the peroxo-oxygen bridge in Ti-O-OH promoted by accumulated hot holes. Moreover, the enhanced photonanozymatic activity of TiO2 PNZs enables the construction of a rapid colorimetric sensing platform for Ag+ determination. This work provides valuable insights into the mechanism of H2O2 activation and exemplifies a novel photoregulation strategy for controlling reaction pathways in nanozymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Wenlong Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Pei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Peng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Jinsong Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Kun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
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Wang H, Huang J, Cai J, Wei Y, Cao A, Liu B, Lu S. In Situ/Operando Methods for Understanding Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction. SMALL METHODS 2023:e2300169. [PMID: 37035954 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
With the development of industrial and agricultural, a large amount of nitrate is produced, which not only disrupts the natural nitrogen cycle, but also endangers public health. Among the commonly used nitrate treatment techniques, the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNRR) has attracted extensive attention due to its mild conditions, pollution-free nature, and other advantages. An in-depth understanding of the eNRR mechanism is the prerequisite for designing highly efficient electrocatalysts. However, some traditional characterization tools cannot comprehensively and deeply study the reaction process. It is necessary to develop in situ and operando techniques to reveal the reaction mechanism at the time-resolved and atomic level. This review discusses the eNRR mechanism and summarizes the possible in situ techniques used in eNRR. A detailed introduction of various in situ techniques and their help in understanding the reaction mechanism is provided. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities in this research area are discussed and highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
- 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
| | - Jinmeng Cai
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yingying Wei
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ang Cao
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Baozhong Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Siyu Lu
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
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Wang J, Wang Y, Cai C, Liu Y, Wu D, Wang M, Li M, Wei X, Shao M, Gu M. Cu-Doped Iron Oxide for the Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:1897-1903. [PMID: 36883315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is a promising alternative synthetic route for sustainable ammonia (NH3) production, because it not only eliminates nitrate (NO3-) from water but also produces NH3 under mild operating conditions. However, owing to the complicated eight-electron reaction and the competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction, developing catalysts with high activities and Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) is highly imperative to improve the reaction performance. In this study, Cu-doped Fe3O4 flakes are fabricated and demonstrated to be excellent catalysts for electrochemical conversion of NO3- to NH3, with a maximum FE of ∼100% and an NH3 yield of 179.55 ± 16.37 mg h-1 mgcat-1 at -0.6 V vs RHE. Theoretical calculations reveal that doping the catalyst surface with Cu results in a more thermodynamically facile reaction. These results highlight the feasibility of promoting the NO3RR activity using heteroatom doping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, People's Republic of China
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Yian Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Cai
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yushen Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Duojie Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Maoyu Wang
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Menghao Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianbin Wei
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Minhua Shao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, People's Republic of China
- Energy Institute, and Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, People's Republic of China
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Nitrite reduction over Ag nanoarray electrocatalyst for ammonia synthesis. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 623:513-519. [PMID: 35597020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.04.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical reduction of nitrite to ammonia can simultaneously achieve ammonia synthesis and N-contaminant removal under mild conditions, which has attracted widespread attention but still lacks efficient catalysts. In this work, Ag nanoarray using NiO nanosheets array on carbon cloth as support is reported as an efficient electrocatalyst to selectively reduce nitrite to ammonia. In 0.1 M NaOH with 0.1 M NO2-, such catalyst exhibits a maximum ammonia yield of 5,751 μg h-1 cm-2 (57,510 μg h-1 mgAg-1) and high Faradaic efficiency up to 97.7 %. Density functional theory calculations applied to uncover the catalytic mechanism of NO2- reduction reaction on Ag.
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