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Electrochemical nitrate reduction in acid enables high-efficiency ammonia synthesis and high-voltage pollutes-based fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Rong Zhang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Chuan Li

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Huilin Cui

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yanbo Wang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Shaoce Zhang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Pei Li

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yue Hou

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Ying Guo

    (Shenzhen University)

  • Guojin Liang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Zhaodong Huang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Chao Peng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chunyi Zhi

    (City University of Hong Kong
    City University of Hong Kong
    Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory)

Abstract

Most current research is devoted to electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction for ammonia synthesis under alkaline/neutral media while the investigation of nitrate reduction under acidic conditions is rarely reported. In this work, we demonstrate the potential of TiO2 nanosheet with intrinsically poor hydrogen-evolution activity for selective and rapid nitrate reduction to ammonia under acidic conditions. Hybridized with iron phthalocyanine, the resulting catalyst displays remarkably improved efficiency toward ammonia formation owing to the enhanced nitrate adsorption, suppressed hydrogen evolution and lowered energy barrier for the rate-determining step. Then, an alkaline-acid hybrid Zn-nitrate battery was developed with high open-circuit voltage of 1.99 V and power density of 91.4 mW cm–2. Further, the environmental sulfur recovery can be powered by above hybrid battery and the hydrazine-nitrate fuel cell can be developed for simultaneously hydrazine/nitrate conversion and electricity generation. This work demonstrates the attractive potential of acidic nitrate reduction for ammonia electrosynthesis and broadens the field of energy conversion.

Suggested Citation

  • Rong Zhang & Chuan Li & Huilin Cui & Yanbo Wang & Shaoce Zhang & Pei Li & Yue Hou & Ying Guo & Guojin Liang & Zhaodong Huang & Chao Peng & Chunyi Zhi, 2023. "Electrochemical nitrate reduction in acid enables high-efficiency ammonia synthesis and high-voltage pollutes-based fuel cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43897-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43897-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yanbo Wang & Qing Li & Hu Hong & Shuo Yang & Rong Zhang & Xiaoqi Wang & Xu Jin & Bo Xiong & Shengchi Bai & Chunyi Zhi, 2023. "Lean-water hydrogel electrolyte for zinc ion batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Min Wang & Kristian Torbensen & Danielle Salvatore & Shaoxuan Ren & Dorian Joulié & Fabienne Dumoulin & Daniela Mendoza & Benedikt Lassalle-Kaiser & Umit Işci & Curtis P. Berlinguette & Marc Robert, 2019. "CO2 electrochemical catalytic reduction with a highly active cobalt phthalocyanine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Nicolas Gruber & James N. Galloway, 2008. "An Earth-system perspective of the global nitrogen cycle," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7176), pages 293-296, January.
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