Review of carbon-based catalysts for electrochemical nitrate reduction and green ammonia synthesis

Electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO 3 − ) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a promising approach for removing NO 3 − contamination in water bodies as well as for producing NH 3 necessary for agriculture. The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) uses renewable electricity as its energy sour...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC 2024-12, Vol.26 (24), p.11797-11831
Main Authors: Liao, Guanting, Smith Jr, Richard L, Guo, Haixin, Qi, Xinhua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammonia
Carbon
Carbon sources
Catalysts
Chemical reduction
Chemical synthesis
Electrocatalysts
Electrochemistry
Emissions
Energy sources
Fabrication
Nitrate reduction
Water pollution
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Summary:Electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO 3 − ) to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a promising approach for removing NO 3 − contamination in water bodies as well as for producing NH 3 necessary for agriculture. The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) uses renewable electricity as its energy source, operates under mild operating conditions, has low carbon emissions and is environmentally sustainable. Herein, we review the application of carbon-based electrocatalysts in NO 3 RR, including pure carbon materials, heteroatom doping or metal-bonding catalysts, and carbon substrate-supported composites. Fabrication methods, reaction pathways, mechanisms, experimental techniques and theory used in carbon-based electrocatalysts are critically analyzed and practical limitations are identified for industrial settings. Design aspects of catalyst structure are recommended for realizing NO 3 RR with carbon-based electrocatalysts and achieving clean and efficient large-scale production of green ammonia. This work aims to review the latest developments in carbon-based electrocatalysts applied in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction, including pure carbon materials, heteroatom doping or metal-bonding catalysts, and carbon substrate-supported composites.
ISSN:1463-9262
1463-9270
DOI:10.1039/d4gc04640d