Synergistic bimetallic CuPd oxide alloy electrocatalyst for ammonia production from the electrochemical nitrate reaction. Issue 44 (27th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jung, Wonsang; Jeong, Jaewoo; Chae, Younghyun; Lee, Woong Hee; Ko, Young-Jin; Chae, Keun Hwa; Oh, Hyung-suk; Lee, Ung; Lee, Dong Ki; Min, Byoung Koun; Shin, Hyeyoung; Hwang, Yun Jeong; Won, Da Hye
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 44(2022)
• Page Start: 23760
• Page End: 23769
• Publication Date: 2022-10-27
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ta06316f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Bimetallic CuPd oxide alloy electrocatalysts can promote selective ammonia production from the nitrate reduction reaction by accelerating the rate-determining hydrogenation of nitrite, which is a critical intermediate. Abstract : The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3 RRs) can produce value-added chemicals such as ammonia (NH3 ) via multiple steps. Here, we demonstrate that bimetallic Cu–Pd–O x alloy electrocatalysts can promote selective NH3 production from the eNO3 RR, especially at low overpotential, by accelerating the rate-determining hydrogenation of NO2 −, a critical intermediate, on the Cu catalyst. The synergistic effect of Cu and Pd affords 14 times higher NH3 yield (1.41 mg h −1 cm −2 ) at −0.2 VRHE with an optimum composition (Cu0.65 Pd0.35 O x ) than that obtained using bare CuO x . The operando near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and simulation results support that the high hydrogen affinity of Pd facilitates sequential hydrogenation on metallic Cu active sites, consequently increasing the NH3 selectivity and production rate. Our study sheds light on the mechanism of the catalytic eNO3 RR and presents a design strategy for more advanced eNO3 RR electrocatalysts.