Print Email Facebook Twitter Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia on ultra-stable amorphous Co–P electrocatalyst Title Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia on ultra-stable amorphous Co–P electrocatalyst Author Fan, Jin-Long (Soochow University) Liu, Sheng-Bo (Suzhou University of Science and Technology) Chen, M. (TU Delft ChemE/Product and Process Engineering) Wu, Zhangxiong (Soochow University) Sun, Sheng-Peng (Soochow University) Lou, Yao-Yin (Soochow University; Chinese Academy of Sciences) Date 2024 Abstract Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate (NO3−) to ammonia (NH3) is garnering increasing interest due to its potential to reduce CO2 emissions as a substitute for the Haber-Bosch process, while also mitigating NO3− pollution. However, it remains a challenge to achieve a current density exceeding 300 mA cm−2 while maintaining the stability of catalysts. Additionally, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction, characterized by slow kinetics and high energy barriers, severely impedes the widespread adoption of NH3 formation from NO3− reduction. Therefore, in this study, we introduce amorphous phosphorus-doped cobalt catalysts (Co–P@NF) prepared via a facile electrodeposition process for efficient NO3− reduction and hydrazine oxidation. The incorporation of phosphorus in Co–P@NF facilitates electron migration from phosphorus to cobalt, enhancing *H provision for efficient hydrogenation of the intermediate *NO2−. This results in a current density of 2 A cm−2 at −0.3 V, with a faradaic efficiency for NH3 of 91% in an electrolyte containing 1 M NO3−. Moreover, the Co–P@NF catalyst exhibits remarkable long-term stability, maintaining an NH3 faradaic efficiency exceeding 90% and a current density of 799 mA cm−2 after 82 hours of electrolysis. Furthermore, Co–P@NF displays high catalytic activity in promoting the rate-determining step of hydrazine oxidation, from *N2H2 to *N2H. The incorporation of the HzOR (hydrazine oxidation reaction)-assisted NO3−RR (nitrate reduction reaction) unit significantly reduces the cell voltage to 0.34 V at 300 mA cm−2. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:35f00509-8930-465d-b20d-165f510dad2d DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ta02299h Embargo date 2024-12-14 ISSN 2050-7488 Source Journal of Materials Chemistry A Bibliographical note Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public. Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 Jin-Long Fan, Sheng-Bo Liu, M. Chen, Zhangxiong Wu, Sheng-Peng Sun, Yao-Yin Lou Files file embargo until 2024-12-14