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Updated: Jan 9, 2026

The Effect of Interfacial Chemical Bonding in TiO2-SiO2 Composites on Their Photocatalytic NOx Abatement Performance
Published on: July 4, 2017
Efficient reduction of nitrate to Ammonia via TiO2-mediated interfacial electronic interactions in NiCoO2/TiO2/Ti
1State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.
Abstract:
Nitrate (NO3-), as a major nitrogen oxide, is one of the principal contributors to global water pollution. The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (e-NO3RR) not only holds the promise of circumventing the environmental pollution issues associated with NO3- but also furthers the recycling of energy resources, paving the way for sustainable development. Herein, we have synthesized composite catalysts with a heterojunction between the bimetallic oxide (NiCoO2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) on the surface of titanium foam (NiCoO2/TiO2/Ti) through a two-step reaction. This catalyst delivers a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 94.1 % and the ammonia yield rate (NH3 yield) nearing 200 μmol h-1 cm-2 in the e-NO3RR. After 24 h of reaction in a 0.1 M KNO3 solution, the selectivity of NiCoO2/TiO2/Ti for ammonia (NH3) can reach up to 94.9 %. In conjunction with density functional theory (DFT) calculations and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments, it can be demonstrated that significant interfacial electronic interactions (IEIs) are established at the catalyst interface. Regulating the direction of internal electron transfer within the bimetallic oxide NiCoO2 via TiO2 enables the transformation of the NiCoO2 surface from an electron-rich state to an electron-deficient state. This modulation alters the local electrochemical environment of NiCoO2, thereby enhancing its capability for NO3- adsorption and activation, and consequently facilitating the e-NO3RR process.
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