Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia: Assessing the Electrocatalytic Activity of Cu-Based Structures
Paz Stein a, Ronen Bar-Ziv a, Maya Bar-Sadan b
a Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, 8410501 Israel
b Department of Chemistry, Nuclear Research Center Negev, P.O. Box 9001, Beer-Sheva 84190, Israel
Proceedings of MATSUS Fall 2024 Conference (MATSUSFall24)
#NANOFUN - Functional Nanomaterials: from materials to applications.
Lausanne, Switzerland, 2024 November 12th - 15th
Organizers: Emmanuel Lhuillier and Shalini Singh
Oral, Paz Stein, presentation 178
Publication date: 28th August 2024

The electrochemical reduction of nitrate (NO) to ammonia (NH) offers a sustainable approach to minimize nitrate pollution while generating valuable chemicals. This study focuses on the functionality of copper-based catalysts, specifically Cu₃N, Cu₂O, CuO, and Cu₃P, in promoting this reaction. Utilizing 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as the electrolyte, a systematic investigation of the performance and stability of these catalysts is conducted. It was revealed that Cu₃N’s surface was modified during catalysis to CuO. Post-catalysis characterizations were conducted to understand these transformations, revealing significant insights into the stability and activity of the oxidized forms. The findings indicate that CuO and CuO exhibited comparable activity to CuN after the oxidation process. Additionally, the relatively unexplored realm of transition-metal nitrides and phosphides presents a fertile ground for further research. The inclusion of CuP highlighted its distinct potential in nitrate reduction applications, demonstrating greater activity in hydrogen evolution compared to the other copper species. The comprehensive evaluation of CuN, CuO, CuO, and CuP provided a nuanced understanding of copper-based catalysts, laying the groundwork for future advancements in electrochemical nitrate reduction studies.

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