Cu-modified CoSe₂ nanoarrays for efficient electrocatalytic nitrite reduction to ammonia

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry

Background:

• Electrochemical nitrite reduction presents a sustainable pathway for ammonia synthesis.
• Simultaneous ammonia production, wastewater treatment, and energy generation are desirable goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrocatalyst for efficient nitrite reduction.
• To investigate the performance of the Cu-CoSe2 electrocatalyst for ammonia electrosynthesis.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a novel Cu-CoSe2 electrocatalyst.
• Electrochemical characterization of the catalyst in alkaline solution.
• Quantification of ammonia yield and faradaic efficiency.

Main Results:

• The Cu-CoSe2 electrocatalyst achieved a high ammonia yield of 4.79 mmol h⁻¹ cm⁻².
• An excellent ammonia faradaic efficiency of 98.7% was recorded at -0.3 V vs. RHE.
• The catalyst demonstrated efficient performance in alkaline media.

Conclusions:

• The novel Cu-CoSe2 electrocatalyst is highly effective for electrochemical nitrite reduction.
• This catalyst offers a promising solution for simultaneous ammonia electrosynthesis and environmental remediation.
• The findings pave the way for integrated energy and waste management systems.