High-efficiency electrocatalytic nitrite reduction toward ammonia synthesis on CoP@TiO2 nanoribbon array

• Published in: iScience Vol. 26; no. 7; p. 107100
• Main Authors: He, Xun, Li, Zixiao, Yao, Jie, Dong, Kai, Li, Xiuhong, Hu, Long, Sun, Shengjun, Cai, Zhengwei, Zheng, Dongdong, Luo, Yongsong, Ying, Binwu, Hamdy, Mohamed S., Xie, Lisi, Liu, Qian, Sun, Xuping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 21-07-2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Electrochemistry; Materials chemistry; Electrochemistry; Materials chemistry
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107100

Electrochemical reduction of nitrite (NO2−) can satisfy the necessity for NO2− contaminant removal and deliver a sustainable pathway for ammonia (NH3) generation. Its practical application yet requires highly efficient electrocatalysts to boost NH3 yield and Faradaic efficiency (FE). In this study, CoP nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 nanoribbon array on Ti plate (CoP@TiO2/TP) is verified as a high-efficiency electrocatalyst for the selective reduction of NO2− to NH3. When measured in 0.1 M NaOH with NO2−, the freestanding CoP@TiO2/TP electrode delivers a large NH3 yield of 849.57 μmol h−1 cm−2 and a high FE of 97.01% with good stability. Remarkably, the subsequently fabricated Zn–NO2− battery achieves a high power density of 1.24 mW cm−2 while delivering a NH3 yield of 714.40 μg h−1 cm−2.
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•CoP@TiO2/TP acts as a superb NO2−RR electrocatalyst for NH3 synthesis•It achieves a NH3 yield of 849.57 μmol h−1 cm−2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 97.01%•It shows good stability for 12 h of bulk electrolysis and recycling tests•The fabricated Zn–NO2− battery achieves a NH3 yield of 714.40 μg h−1 cm−2
Electrochemistry; Materials chemistry