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Ferromagnetic Fe-TiO2 spin catalysts for enhanced ammonia electrosynthesis

Author

Listed:
  • Jingnan Wang

    (Fuzhou University
    China University of Petroleum)

  • Kaiheng Zhao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yongbin Yao

    (Beijing Jiaotong University)

  • Fan Xue

    (Beijing Jiaotong University)

  • Fei Lu

    (Yangzhou University)

  • Wensheng Yan

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Fangli Yuan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Xi Wang

    (Beijing Jiaotong University)

Abstract

Magnetic field effects (MFE) of ferromagnetic spin electrocatalysts have attracted significant attention due to their potential to enhance catalytic activity under an external magnetic field. However, no ferromagnetic spin catalysts have demonstrated MFE in the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate for ammonia (NO3RR), a pioneering approach towards NH3 production involving the conversion from diamagnetic NO3− to paramagnetic NO. Here, we report the ferromagnetic Fe-TiO2 to investigate MFE on NO3RR. Fe-TiO2 possesses a high density of atomically dispersed Fe sites and exhibits an intermediate-spin state, resulting in magnetic ordering through ferromagnetism. Assisted by a magnetic field, Fe-TiO2 achieves a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of up to 97% and an NH3 yield of 24.69 mg mgcat−1 at −0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Compared to conditions without an external magnetic field, the FE and NH3 yield for Fe-TiO2 under an external magnetic field is increased by ~21.8% and ~ 3.1 times, respectively. In-situ characterization and theoretical calculations show that spin polarization enhances the critical step of NO hydrogenation to NOH by optimizing electron transfer pathways between Fe and NO, significantly boosting NO3RR activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingnan Wang & Kaiheng Zhao & Yongbin Yao & Fan Xue & Fei Lu & Wensheng Yan & Fangli Yuan & Xi Wang, 2025. "Ferromagnetic Fe-TiO2 spin catalysts for enhanced ammonia electrosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56566-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56566-7
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