Tailoring asymmetric RuCu dual-atom electrocatalyst toward ammonia synthesis from nitrate.

ABSTRACT: Atomically dispersed Ru-Cu dual-atom catalysts (DACs) with asymmetric coordination are critical for sustainable ammonia production via electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO₃RR), but their rational synthesis remains challenging. Here, we report a pulsed discharge strategy that injects a microsecond pulse current into ruthenium (Ru) and copper (Cu) precursors supported by nitrogen-doped graphene aerogels (NGA). The atomically dispersed Ru and Cu dual atoms anchor onto nanopore defects of NGA (RuCu DAs/NGA) through explosive decomposition of the metal salt nanocrystals. The catalyst achieves 95.7% Faraday efficiency and 3.1 mg h^-1 cm^-2 NH₃ yield at -0.4 V vs. RHE. In situ studies reveal an asymmetric RuN₂-CuN₃ active-site dynam

SUBMITTER: Liu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11880338 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature