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Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...
Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism01:37

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

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.
Rate-Determining Steps03:08

Rate-Determining Steps

Relating Reaction Mechanisms
In a multistep reaction mechanism, one of the elementary steps progresses significantly slower than the others. This slowest step is called the rate-limiting step (or rate-determining step). A reaction cannot proceed faster than its slowest step, and hence, the rate-determining step limits the overall reaction rate.
The concept of rate-determining step can be understood from the analogy of a 4-lane freeway with a short-stretch of traffic-bottleneck caused due to...
Preparation of Amines: Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones01:38

Preparation of Amines: Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones

Carbonyl compounds and primary amines undergo reductive amination first to produce imines, followed by secondary amines in the same reaction mixture, using selective reducing agents like sodium cyanoborohydride or sodium triacetoxyborohydride. Reductive amination produces different degrees of substitution of amines depending on the starting amine substrate.

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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
09:50

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

Adaptive Cu Reconstruction in Heterostructure Drives High-Rate Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion.

Chunyu Yuan1, Saikat Bolar1,2, Yongzheng Zhang3,4

  • 1School of Engineering Science, Kochi University of Technology, Kami City, Kochi, Japan.

Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|July 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Engineered heterojunction catalysts (R-Co1Cu9OX) achieve high efficiency for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia. This adaptive reconstruction strategy optimizes catalytic active sites for improved NH3 synthesis.

Keywords:
adaptive reconstructionheterostructure engineeringnitrate reduction reaction

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Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

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Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure
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Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure

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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3-RR) is crucial for ammonia (NH3) synthesis but faces challenges like high overpotentials and byproduct formation.
  • Dynamic structural evolution in mixed-valence metal species can create active catalytic phases, yet efficiency remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer an adaptively reconstructed heterojunction catalyst (R-Co1Cu9OX) from a CuO/CoO(X) pre-catalyst for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction.
  • To investigate the self-adaptive reconstruction mechanism and its role in stabilizing intermediates for enhanced NH3 synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Rational engineering of a CuO/CoO(X) heterojunction catalyst (Co1Cu9OX) into an adaptively reconstructed form (R-Co1Cu9OX).
  • Electrochemical characterization at -0.2 V vs. RHE to evaluate ammonia yield and Faradaic efficiency.
  • Structural analyses to elucidate the dynamic reconstruction equilibrium of Cu species and the role of the heterojunction interface.

Main Results:

  • The optimized R-Co1Cu9OX catalyst achieved a high ammonia yield of 54.68 mg h-1 mgcat-1 with 95.40% Faradaic efficiency.
  • Structural analysis revealed a dynamic equilibrium involving hydroxylated oxidized Cu and reduced metallic Cu domains.
  • The dual-phase interface facilitated optimal *H supply and regulated nitrogen-containing intermediate adsorption and hydrogenation.

Conclusions:

  • Heterostructure engineering with self-adaptive reconstruction is a promising strategy for NO3-RR catalysis.
  • The dynamic evolution of the Cu/CoO(X) interface enhances nitrate adsorption and stabilizes key intermediates for efficient NH3 production.
  • This approach offers a pathway for advanced electrocatalysis under dynamic chemical state changes.