A Copper-Zinc Cyanamide Solid-Solution Catalyst with Tailored Surface Electrostatic Potentials Promotes Asymmetric N-Intermediate Adsorption in Nitrite Electroreduction.

ABSTRACT: The electrocatalytic nitrite reduction (NO₂RR) converts nitrogen-containing pollutants to high-value ammonia (NH₃) under ambient conditions. However, its multiple intermediates and multielectron coupled proton transfer process lead to low activity and NH₃ selectivity for the existing electrocatalysts. Herein, we synthesize a solid-solution copper-zinc cyanamide (Cu_0.8Zn_0.2NCN) with localized structure distortion and tailored surface electrostatic potential, allowing for the asymmetric binding of NO₂^-. It exhibits outstanding NO₂RR performance with a Faradaic efficiency of ∼100% and an NH₃ yield of 22 mg h^-1 cm^-2, among the best for such a process. Theoretical calculation

SUBMITTER: Wang JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11887442 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature