Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Modulated metal-support interactions for efficient nitrate electroreduction at positive potentials
Yixiang Tang1, Yuchi Wan2, Wei Yan1
1Institute of New Energy Materials and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Green and Efficient Development of Phosphorus Resources, Fujian Engineering Research Center of High Energy Batteries and New Energy Equipment & Systems, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.
Abstract:
Electrochemical nitrate upgrading presents a sustainable route for repairing unbalanced nitrogen cycle. However, the low energy efficiency caused by high overpotential impedes the industrialization progress. Herein, Ru clusters supported on metal hydroxide are constructed by a universal self-corrosion strategy, and the metal-support interaction is modulated to simultaneously optimize NO3- adsorption and water dissociation for achieving high energy efficiency at positive potentials. The Co(OH)2-supported Ru with moderate metal-support interaction exhibits a high energy efficiency of 49.5% and a high NH3 Faradaic efficiency of ~100% at positive potentials. Furthermore, a long-term stability over 1200 h is achieved at an industrial-scale current density of 200 mA cm-2. Moreover, the assembled rechargeable hybrid battery system shows a great potential in waste upcycling and energy conversion. This work underscores the significance of metal-support interaction for promoting nitrate electroreduction at positive potentials.
Related Concept Videos
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Electrodeposition
Electrodeposition can...
Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
Formation of Complex Ions
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...

