The interface-mediated electron structure tuning of RuOx-Co3O4 nano-particles for efficient electrocatalytic nitrate reduction

Yang Liu; Xiaoli Jiang; Yagang Zhang; Hangqi Li; Weidong Huang; Yuanteng Yang; Minghao Ye; Yanxia Liu

doi:10.1039/d3dt03318j

The interface-mediated electron structure tuning of RuO_x-Co₃O₄ nano-particles for efficient electrocatalytic nitrate reduction

Dalton Trans. 2023 Dec 19;53(1):162-170. doi: 10.1039/d3dt03318j.

Authors

Yang Liu¹, Xiaoli Jiang^{1

2}, Yagang Zhang^{1

2}, Hangqi Li¹, Weidong Huang^{1

2}, Yuanteng Yang¹, Minghao Ye¹, Yanxia Liu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China. ygzhang@uestc.edu.cn.
² State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.

PMID: 38018516
DOI: 10.1039/d3dt03318j

Abstract

The energy-intensive processes for the industrial production of ammonia necessitates the development of new methods to be proposed that will aid in reducing the global energy consumption. Specifically, the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR) to produce ammonia is more thermodynamically feasible than the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). However, it is hindered by a low catalytic activity due to its complex reaction pathways. Herein, we synthesized a novel electrocatalyst, RuO_x-Co₃O₄ nanoparticles, with abundant interfaces, which exhibited an enhanced catalytic activity for efficient ammonia synthesis. This catalyst delivered a partial current density of 65.8 mA cm^-2 for NH₃ production, a faradaic efficiency (FE) of 89.7%, and a superior ammonia yield rate of up to 210.5 μmol h^-1 cm^-2 at -0.6 V vs. RHE. X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the formed interfacial Ru-O-Co bond can decorate the electronic structures of the active sites and accelerate the absorption of NO₃^-, thus promoting the production of ammonia.