Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia via direct eight-electron 
transfer using a copper–molecular solid catalyst

Chen, Gaofeng; Yuan, Yifei; Jiang, Haifeng; Ren, Shi-Yu; Ding, Liang-Xin; Ma, Lu; Wu, Tianpin; Lu, Jun; Wang, Haihui

doi:10.1038/s41560-020-0654-1

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Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia via direct eight-electron transfer using a copper–molecular solid catalyst

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Chen, Gaofeng
Aleksandr Savateev, Kolloidchemie, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Chen, G., Yuan, Y., Jiang, H., Ren, S.-Y., Ding, L.-X., Ma, L., et al. (2020). Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia via direct eight-electron transfer using a copper–molecular solid catalyst. Nature Energy, 5(8), 605-613. doi:10.1038/s41560-020-0654-1.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0006-CEA4-9

Abstract

Ammonia (NH₃) is essential for modern agriculture and industry and is a potential energy carrier. NH₃ is traditionally synthesized by the Haber–Bosch process at high temperature and pressure. The high-energy input of this process has motivated research into electrochemical NH3 synthesis via nitrogen (N₂)–water reactions under ambient conditions. However, the future of this low-cost process is compromised by the low yield rate and poor selectivity, ascribed to the inert N≡N bond and ultralow solubility of N₂. Obtaining NH₃ directly from non-N₂ sources could circumvent these challenges. Here we report the eight-electron direct electroreduction of nitrate to NH3 catalysed by copper-incorporated crystalline 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride. The catalyst exhibits an NH₃ production rate of 436 ± 85 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻² and a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 85.9% at −0.4 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. This notable performance is achieved by the catalyst regulating the transfer of protons and/or electrons to the copper centres and suppressing hydrogen production.