Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Site Directed Spin Labeling and EPR Spectroscopic Studies of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
Published on: July 4, 2016
Manipulating spin-state conversion to promote asymmetric d-p orbital hybridization for high-efficiency nitrate
Ke Wang1, Tong Zhao1, Hou Wang2
1State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150040 P. R. China stephen6949@hit.edu.cn.
Abstract:
The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3 -RR) presents a sustainable solution for water pollutant management and green ammonia (NH3) synthesis. However, hindered by the spin-forbidden barrier, the sluggish hydrogenation kinetics of the key intermediate *NO severely limits the production of NH3. Here, we reported for the first time the realization of a controllable transition of the inner Co spin-state from a low spin to a high spin in CuCo2O4 through the Mn doping-driven oxygen vacancy strategy (Mn-CuCo2O4-x ). The elevated Co spin-state enhanced Co 3d (d xz /d yz /d z 2 )-*NO 2p asymmetrical orbital hybridization, facilitating *NO intermediate adsorption and the subsequent hydrogenation. Thanks to the Cu-Co synergistic effect enhanced via spin-state modulation, the Mn-CuCo2O4-x /graphene oxide aerogels (GAs) exhibited an attractive NH3 yield rate of 2.14 mg h-1 cm-2 with a dramatic NH3 faradaic efficiency of 98.37% at an environmentally relevant NO3 - level (10 mM NO3 --N), far superior to that of Co3O4/GAs, CuCo2O4/GAs and as-reported catalysts. Moreover, the strong interfacial interaction between GAs and Mn-CuCo2O4-x suppresses structural reconstruction of Mn-CuCo2O4-x , endowing the hybrid with robust stability. Herein, we confirm that spin-state modulation can enhance the Cu-Co synergistic effect and reveal a universal strategy to optimize intermediate adsorption/conversion through the spin-state, opening up a new avenue for deep purification of water pollutants based on spin optimization and providing general principles for the rational design of catalytic materials.
More Related Videos
13:21Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Radical Anion by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy from Cells using Spin Traps
Published on: August 18, 2012
08:05Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
Published on: October 7, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement (NOE)
Valence Bond Theory
Structure of Amines
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin
Atomic nuclei have a net nuclear spin, , which can have an integer or half-integer value. In atomic nuclei, the spins of protons are paired against each other but not with neutrons, and vice versa. Consequently, an even number of protons does not contribute to...