Zeolite-mediated hybrid Cu+/Cu0 interface for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

The electrocatalytic conversion of reactive nitrogen species to ammonia is a promising strategy for efficient NH3 synthesis. In this study, we reveal that the hybrid Cu+/Cu0 interface is catalytically active for electrochemical ammonia synthesis from nitrate reduction. To maintain the hybrid Cu+/Cu0 state at negative reaction potentials, hydrophilic zeolite is used to modify Cu/Cu2O electrocatalyst, which demonstrates an impressive NH3 production rate of 41.65 mg h-1 cm-2 with-100% Faradaic efficiency of ammonia synthesis at-0.6 V vs. RHE. In-situ Raman spectroscopy unveil the high activity originates from the zeolite reconstruction at the electrode-electrolyte interface, which protects the valence state of Cu0/ Cu+ site under negative potential and promotes electrochemical activity towards NH3 synthesis.(c) 2023 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.