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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Unlocking Ampere-Level Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia Via the Built-In Electric Field in Monometallic Catalysts
Zhihong He1, Qian Zhou1, Xin Zi2
1Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Key Laboratory for Multifunctional Ionic Electronic Materials and Devices of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China.
Abstract:
Bimetallic/multimetallic catalysts for nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR) have been extensively investigated benefiting from their synergistic effects in optimizing various intermediate adsorptions; however, the interphasic synergistic effects in monometallic catalysts are often overlooked. Here we report an interphasic synergy between electron-rich Co(OH)2 and electron-deficient CoO, in which the asymmetric charge distribution in monometallic cobalt-based heterojunction derived from the built-in electric field (BEF) significantly accelerates electron transfer and lowers the energy barriers for NO3-RR. Theoretical calculations reveal that the chemical affinities of Co atoms toward NO3- and NO2- are significantly enhanced and even NO3- adsorption switches to a spontaneous process. Simultaneously, the BEF in monometallic Co-based heterostructures greatly reduces the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*NO→*NOH) in the NO3-RR. Therefore, the resultant catalyst exhibits ampere-level NO3-RR performance, achieving a record NH3 yield up to 73.9 mg h-1 cm-2 at a low potential of -0.2 V with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 95.6%.
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