Search

Electrochemical nitrate (NO3−) reduction is a sustainable pathway for ambient ammonia (NH3) synthesis while eliminating NO3− pollutants in water. However, the NO3− reduction reaction (NO3−RR) involves a complicated eight-electron transfer process, which needs highly selective and efficient electrocatalysts. This work describes the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticle-decorated 3D pinewood-derived carbon (Fe3O4/PC) as a high-efficiency catalyst for the electroreduction of NO3− to NH3 at ambient reaction conditions. When tested in 0.1 M NaOH containing 0.1 M NO3−, the Fe3O4/PC obtains a large NH3 yield of 394.8 μmol h−1 cm−2 and high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 91.6% at −0.4 V. Significantly, Fe3O4/PC also delivers high stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical nitrate (NO 3 - ) reduction is a sustainable pathway for ambient ammonia (NH 3 ) synthesis while eliminating NO 3 - pollutants in water. However, the NO 3 - reduction reaction (NO 3 - RR) involves a complicated eight-electron transfer process, which needs highly selective and efficient electrocatalysts. This work describes the synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticle-decorated 3D pinewood-derived carbon (Fe 3 O 4 /PC) as a high-efficiency catalyst for the electroreduction of NO 3 - to NH 3 at ambient reaction conditions. When tested in 0.1 M NaOH containing 0.1 M NO 3 - , the Fe 3 O 4 /PC obtains a large NH 3 yield of 394.8 μmol h -1 cm -2 and high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 91.6% at -0.4 V. Significantly, Fe 3 O 4 /PC also delivers high stability.