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Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Efficient Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia with Copper-Supported Rhodium Cluster and Single-Atom
Huimin Liu1, Xiuyao Lang1, Chao Zhu2
1Institute of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology, Solar Energy Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology of Tianjin, Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Photoelectronic Technology, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Abstract:
The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NITRR) provides a promising solution for restoring the imbalance in the global nitrogen cycle while enabling a sustainable and decentralized route to source ammonia. Here, we demonstrate a novel electrocatalyst for NITRR consisting of Rh clusters and single-atoms dispersed onto Cu nanowires (NWs), which delivers a partial current density of 162 mA cm-2 for NH3 production and a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 93 % at -0.2 V vs. RHE. The highest ammonia yield rate reached a record value of 1.27 mmol h-1 cm-2 . Detailed investigations by electron paramagnetic resonance, in situ infrared spectroscopy, differential electrochemical mass spectrometry and density functional theory modeling suggest that the high activity originates from the synergistic catalytic cooperation between Rh and Cu sites, whereby adsorbed hydrogen on Rh site transfers to vicinal *NO intermediate species adsorbed on Cu promoting the hydrogenation and ammonia formation.
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