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Related Concept Videos

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.
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Nitration of Benzene01:20

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Nitration of Benzene

The nitration of benzene is an example of an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. It involves the formation of a very powerful electrophile, the nitronium ion, which is linear in shape. The reaction occurs through the interaction of two strong acids, sulfuric and nitric acid.
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.
Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles01:13

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles

Nitriles can be reduced to primary amines using reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride or catalytic hydrogenation. The reduction introduces an amino group with an extra carbon in the skeleton. Nitriles are formed from the reaction between alkyl halides and sodium cyanide through the SN2 mechanism. Primary alkyl halides are the preferred substrates to prepare nitriles.
Amides can be reduced to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, active metals like Fe,...
Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds01:29

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds

Oximes can be reduced to primary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, or sodium metal reduction. The reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds to primary amines takes place by either catalytic hydrogenation or by using active metals like Fe, Zn, and Sn in the presence of an acid.
Though catalytic hydrogenation can reduce nitrobenzenes, the reduction is nonselective in the presence of other functional groups. For instance, if nitrobenzene contains an aldehyde group,...
Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction00:55

Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction

Nitriles are reduced to amines in the presence of strong reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride through a typical nucleophilic acyl substitution. The reaction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent. The reducing agent acts as a source of hydride ions.
As shown below, the mechanism involves three steps. Firstly, the hydride ion acting as a nucleophile attacks the nitrile carbon to form an anion. In the second step, a second equivalent of the hydride ion attacks the anion to...

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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
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Boron-Modified Ni-Cu Heterostructure Electrocatalyst for Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

Zhicheng Wang1, Wei Wang1, Fang Han1

  • 1School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, P. R. China.

Inorganic Chemistry
|July 14, 2026
PubMed
Summary

A novel boron-modified nickel-copper catalyst efficiently converts nitrate to ammonia, offering a sustainable solution for water remediation and ammonia production. This electrocatalyst demonstrates high activity and stability.

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Chemical Precipitation Method for the Synthesis of Nb2O5 Modified Bulk Nickel Catalysts with High Specific Surface Area

Published on: February 19, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Environmental Engineering

Background:

  • Electrochemical nitrate reduction is a promising dual strategy for sustainable ammonia production and nitrate-contaminated water remediation.
  • Development of highly active, selective, and stable electrocatalysts is crucial for efficient nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and investigate a boron-modified nickel-copper heterostructure catalyst for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction.
  • To assess the catalyst's performance in terms of ammonia yield, selectivity, and durability.
  • To elucidate the mechanistic role of boron doping in enhancing catalytic activity.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of a boron-modified nickel-copper heterostructure catalyst (B-Ni2(CO3)(OH)2/Cu(OH)2/CF).
  • Electrochemical characterization of the catalyst for nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) performance evaluation.
  • Mechanistic studies to understand the effect of boron doping on catalyst properties and reaction pathways.

Main Results:

  • The B-Ni2(CO3)(OH)2/Cu(OH)2/CF catalyst achieved a high ammonia yield of 6.8 mg h−1 cm−2 with 92.0% Faradaic efficiency at -0.7 V (vs RHE).
  • The catalyst exhibited excellent durability during extended electrochemical operation.
  • Boron doping was found to induce surface BOx species and modulate the electronic structure of Ni sites, enhancing nitrate activation and hydrogenation kinetics.

Conclusions:

  • Boron doping is an effective strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts for efficient nitrate-to-ammonia conversion.
  • The developed catalyst offers a sustainable pathway for simultaneous water detoxification and valuable ammonia recovery.
  • This research provides insights into catalyst design for electrochemical applications in environmental remediation and chemical synthesis.