Size-effect induced controllable Cu⁰-Cu⁺ sites for ampere-level nitrate electroreduction coupled with biomass...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• The synergistic Cu⁰-Cu⁺ sites are key for ammonia synthesis through nitrate electrochemical reduction (NO₃^-RR).
• Understanding the specific roles of Cu⁰ and Cu⁺ and controlling their interfacial structure remain significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the tunable construction of Cu⁰-Cu⁺ interfacial structures using size-controlled Cu₂O nanocubes.
• To elucidate the formation mechanism of Cu⁰-Cu⁺ motifs and their synergistic effects on NO₃^-RR performance.

Main Methods:

• Modulating the size of Cu₂O nanocube electrocatalysts to tune the Cu⁰-Cu⁺ interfacial structure.
• Correlating macroscopic particle size with microscopic coordinated structure properties.
• Developing a paired-electrolysis system for simultaneous NH₃ and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid production.

Main Results:

• Successfully controlled Cu⁰-Cu⁺ interfacial structures by adjusting Cu₂O nanocube size.
• Identified the synergistic effect of Cu⁰-Cu⁺ motifs in enhancing NO₃^-RR.
• Achieved high Faradaic efficiencies and yield rates for NH₃ and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid production.

Conclusions:

• Rational design of Cu⁰-Cu⁺ interfacial electrocatalysts enables efficient NO₃^-RR.
• The developed paired-electrolysis system demonstrates industrial potential with high performance and stability in large-scale electrolyzers.