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Related Concept Videos

Resonance02:52

Resonance

64.2K
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N-O and N=O bonds.
64.2K
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview01:26

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview

3.8K
Nitrous acid and nitric acids are two types of acids containing nitrogen, among which nitrous acid is weaker than nitric acid. Nitrous acid with a pKa value of 3.37 ionizes in water to give a nitrite ion and the hydronium ion.
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by...
3.8K
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism01:37

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism

4.7K
Nitrous acid is a relatively weak and unstable acid prepared in situ by the reaction of sodium nitrite and cold, dilute hydrochloric acid. In an acidic solution, the nitrous acid undergoes protonation when it loses water to form a nitrosonium ion—an electrophile. Nitrous acid reacts with primary amines to give diazonium salts. The reaction is called diazotization of primary amines.
4.7K
Formation of Complex Ions03:45

Formation of Complex Ions

25.5K
A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
25.5K
Resonance and Hybrid Structures02:16

Resonance and Hybrid Structures

24.6K
According to the theory of resonance, if two or more Lewis structures with the same arrangement of atoms can be written for a molecule, ion, or radical, the actual distribution of electrons is an average of that shown by the various Lewis structures.
Resonance Structures and Resonance Hybrids
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N–O and N=O bonds.
24.6K
meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –⁠CO2R, –COR, –CO2H01:13

meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –⁠CO2R, –COR, –CO2H

6.5K
All meta-directing substituents are deactivating groups. These substituents withdraw electrons from the aromatic ring, making the ring less reactive toward electrophilic substitution. For example, the nitration of nitrobenzene is 100,000 times slower than that of benzene because of the deactivating effect of the nitro group. The first step in an electrophilic aromatic substitution is the addition of an electrophile to form a resonance-stabilized carbocation. The energy diagrams for...
6.5K

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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
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Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

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Deciphering Cation-Stabilized *NO2 at the Molecular Level in Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction.

Ru-Yu Zhou1,2, Shisheng Zheng2,3, Rui Ma2

  • 1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Environment, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou 363000, China.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 26, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Electrocatalytic ammonia production via nitrate reduction is advanced by understanding cation effects on intermediates. This research reveals how electrolyte cations and Sn modification optimize catalysts for efficient ammonia synthesis.

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Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3RR) is a sustainable route to ammonia (NH3) production.
  • Understanding interfacial reaction dynamics is crucial for NO3RR catalyst design.
  • Current NO3RR catalysts lack molecular-level mechanistic insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To unravel the synergistic interfacial mechanism for rational catalyst design in NO3RR.
  • To investigate the role of electrolyte cations in stabilizing key reaction intermediates.
  • To develop a generalizable strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts for NO3RR.

Main Methods:

  • In situ Raman spectroscopy
  • Multiscale simulations
  • Atomic-scale catalyst design using Au single-crystal surfaces
  • Heteroatom modification (Sn)

Main Results:

  • A cation-mediated stabilization mechanism for the *NO2 intermediate was uncovered.
  • Electrolyte cations were shown to modulate electric fields and stabilize *NO2 via interfacial coordination.
  • Sn heteroatom modification weakened *NO2 adsorption and enhanced proton transfer, leading to improved NH3 selectivity.
  • Synergistic modulation of electronic, ionic, and solvent effects was achieved.

Conclusions:

  • Electrolyte cations play a critical role in NO3RR by stabilizing intermediates and controlling reactivity.
  • A paradigm shift towards integrated catalyst design considering the entire electrochemical interface is proposed.
  • The findings provide molecular-level insights and a strategy for designing efficient electrocatalysts for NO3RR and related reactions.