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Atomic defects in pothole-rich two-dimensional copper nanoplates triggering enhanced electrocatalytic selective nitrate-to-ammonia transformation
The development of efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic selective conversion of nitrate pollutants into valuable ammonia is a project of far-reaching importance. This work demonstrated the in situ electroreduction of pre-synthesized CuO nanoplates into defect-rich metallic Cu nanoplates and eval...
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Published in: | Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2021-08, Vol.9 (3), p.16411-16417 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The development of efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic selective conversion of nitrate pollutants into valuable ammonia is a project of far-reaching importance. This work demonstrated the
in situ
electroreduction of pre-synthesized CuO nanoplates into defect-rich metallic Cu nanoplates and evaluated their electrocatalytic nitrate-to-ammonia activity. Concentrated atomic defects in the as-converted Cu nanoplates could favor the adsorption, enrichment and confinement of nitrate ions and pivotal reaction intermediates, selectively promoting eight-electron reduction (NH
3
formation). Consequently, the resultant defect-rich Cu nanoplates exhibit a significant ammonia production rate of 781.25 μg h
−1
mg
−1
, together with excellent nitrate conversion (93.26%), high ammonia selectivity (81.99%) and good electrocatalytic stability, superior to the defect-free Cu nanoplate counterpart. Isotope labelling experiments demonstrated that the source of ammonia was from nitrate. Both
1
H NMR and colorimetric methods were used to quantify the ammonia yield.
Defect-rich copper nanoplates were synthesized by an
in situ
electroreduction method and exhibited enhanced activity for selective electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia. |
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ISSN: | 2050-7488 2050-7496 |
DOI: | 10.1039/d1ta04743d |