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Boosting Nitrate to Ammonia Electroconversion through Hydrogen Gas Evolution over Cu-foam@mesh Catalysts
Yuzhen Wang1,2, Abhijit Dutta1,3, Anna Iarchuk1,3
1Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
ACS Catalysis
|June 21, 2023
Summary
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) boosts nitrate reduction by creating convective flow in porous copper foam catalysts. This overcomes mass transport limitations, enabling high ammonia production rates.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is often a parasitic side reaction in electrocatalysis.
- Efficient electrocatalysts are needed for nitrate reduction to ammonia (N2RR).
- Mass transport limitations hinder high reaction rates in porous catalysts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient catalyst for electrochemical nitrate to ammonia conversion.
- To investigate the role of HER in mitigating mass transport limitations in porous catalysts.
- To enhance nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR) performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of porous Cu foam catalysts using the dynamic hydrogen bubble template method.
- Electrochemical characterization including potentiostatic electrolyses.
- Operando video inspection to observe catalyst behavior under reaction conditions.
Main Results:
- Porous Cu foam acts as an efficient catalyst for electrochemical nitrate to ammonia conversion.
- Gas-evolving HER creates convective flow, enhancing nitrate mass transport into the 3D catalyst structure.
- Achieved partial current densities exceeding 1 A cm-2 for NO3-RR.
Conclusions:
- HER can be leveraged to improve mass transport in porous electrocatalysts.
- The HER-mediated transport effect significantly boosts nitrate reduction performance.
- This strategy offers a pathway to high-rate electrochemical ammonia synthesis from nitrate.
