Molecular Engineering of Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework for Enhanced Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction is an efficient way to produce ammonia sustainably. Herein, we rationally designed a copper metalloporphyrin-based hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF-Cu) through molecular engineering strategies for electrochemical nitrate reduction. As a result, the state-of-the-art HOF-Cu catalyst exhibits high NH₃ Faradaic efficiency of 93.8%, and the NH₃ production rate achieves a superior activity of 0.65 mmol h^-1 cm^-2. The in situ electrochemical spectroscopic combined with density functional theory calculations reveals that the dispersed Cu promotes the adsorption of NO₃^- and the mechanism is followed by deoxidation of NO₃^- to *NO and accompanied by deep hydrogenation. The generated *H participates in the deep hydrogenation of intermediate with fast kinetics as revealed by operando electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction is suppressed. This research provides a promising approach to the conversion of nitrate to ammonia, maintaining the nitrogen balance in the atmosphere.