biostudies-literatureWang ZScience and Technology Commission of Shanghai MunicipalityDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaBavarian Program Solar Technologies Go HybridCenter for NanoSciencee202511398https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12377428biostudies-literatureUnknown64(35)Electrocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) for ammonia (NH₃) synthesis represents a sustainable strategy that simultaneously realizes the nitrogen cycle and resource integration. The key issue hindering the NORR efficiency is accelerating proton (*H) transfer to facilitate NO hydrogenation while inhibiting the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we demonstrate an interface-engineered sulfur-mediated Cu@Co electrocatalyst (S-Cu@Co/C) that boosts NORR performance through dual modulation of electronic structure and proton transfer on active sites. A comprehensive program of experimental and theoretical calculations was employed to discover that sulfur incorporation induces electron redistribution in the Cu-Co interface, creating electron-rich sulfur and electron-deficient metals. This electronic configuration synergistically enhances NO adsorption on Cu sites and promotes water dissociation on Co sites. More critically, sulfur could direct the rapid transfer of *H from Co to Cu sites, thereby accelerating the NO hydrogenation and suppressing HER. Consequently, S-Cu@Co/C achieves an NH₃ yield rate of 655.3 µmol h^-1 cm^-2 in a flow cell and a Faradaic efficiency of 92.4% in an H-cell. Remarkably, the catalyst could maintain continuous electrolysis tests and steady NH₃ yield up to 100 h. This work provides innovative insights into the fabrication of efficient electrocatalysts via heteroatom-mediated interfacial engineering strategies.Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)Sulfur Mediated Interfacial Proton-Directed Transfer Boosts Electrocatalytic Nitric Oxide Reduction to Ammonia over Dual-Site Catalysts.PMC123774282220110224230711600EXC 2089/1-3907762602323071370022436003EXC 2089/1–39077626022125604Li XCheng DZhang DZhu LJiang XXie MShen YCortes EWang ZQu WHan DDuan HfalseSulfur Mediated Interfacial Proton-Directed Transfer Boosts Electrocatalytic Nitric Oxide Reduction to Ammonia over Dual-Site Catalysts.Electrocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) for ammonia (NH₃) synthesis represents a sustainable strategy that simultaneously realizes the nitrogen cycle and resource integration. The key issue hindering the NORR efficiency is accelerating proton (*H) transfer to facilitate NO hydrogenation while inhibiting the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we demonstrate an interface-engineered sulfur-mediated Cu@Co electrocatalyst (S-Cu@Co/C) that boosts NORR performance through dual modulation of electronic structure and proton transfer on active sites. A comprehensive program of experimental and theoretical calculations was employed to discover that sulfur incorporation induces electron redistribution in the Cu-Co interface, creating electron-rich sulfur and electron-deficient metals. This electronic configuration synergistically enhances NO adsorption on Cu sites and promotes water dissociation on Co sites. More critically, sulfur could direct the rapid transfer of *H from Co to Cu sites, thereby accelerating the NO hydrogenation and suppressing HER. Consequently, S-Cu@Co/C achieves an NH₃ yield rate of 655.3 µmol h^-1 cm^-2 in a flow cell and a Faradaic efficiency of 92.4% in an H-cell. Remarkably, the catalyst could maintain continuous electrolysis tests and steady NH₃ yield up to 100 h. This work provides innovative insights into the fabrication of efficient electrocatalysts via heteroatom-mediated interfacial engineering strategies.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-05-09T17:49:25.48Z2026-04-08T01:08:32.462ZS-EPMC123774284059172810.1002/anie.202511398