Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
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Ultrawide Potential Window for Ammonia Electrosynthesis on a Bifunctional Metal-Organic Framework Across Broad
Zheng Ma1, Chunling Zhu1, Qiuye Wang1
1Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|April 9, 2026
Summary
Spatial electronic engineering of metal-organic frameworks enables efficient green ammonia synthesis from nitrate. This breakthrough offers a wide potential window and high efficiency, adapting to fluctuating renewable energy and treating low-concentration nitrate wastewater.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Green ammonia electrosynthesis faces challenges adapting to fluctuating renewable electricity supply.
- Wastewater treatment with low nitrate concentrations requires efficient ammonia production methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a catalyst with an ultrawide potential window for nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA).
- To enhance adaptability to renewable energy fluctuations and low-concentration nitrate wastewater treatment.
Main Methods:
- Spatial electronic engineering of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was employed.
- Nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) was coupled with glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR).
- Catalyst performance was evaluated over a broad nitrate concentration range and long-term stability tests.
Main Results:
- Achieved an ultrawide potential window of 700 mV for NRA with Faradaic efficiencies >90% across 10-100 mM nitrate.
- Simultaneous NRA||GOR reached 50 mA·cm⁻² at 1.16 V, significantly lower than NRA||OER.
- The system demonstrated stable operation at industrial current densities (~200 mA·cm⁻²) for over 100 hours.
Conclusions:
- Spatial electronic engineering of MOFs provides a bifunctional catalyst with an ultrawide potential window and spontaneous nitrate adsorption.
- The developed catalyst exhibits excellent adaptability to renewable electricity and effective low-concentration nitrate water treatment.
- This approach offers a dual sustainability advantage for green ammonia production and wastewater remediation.
