Self‐Supported Pd Nanorod Arrays for High‐Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

Abstract

AbstractElectrochemical nitrate (NO3−) reduction to ammonia (NH3) offers a promising pathway to recover NO3− pollutants from industrial wastewater that can balance the nitrogen cycle and sustainable green NH3 production. However, the efficiency of electrocatalytic NO3− reduction to NH3 synthesis remains low for most of electrocatalysts due to complex reaction processes and severe hydrogen precipitation reaction. Herein, high performance of nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR) is demonstrated on self‐supported Pd nanorod arrays in porous nickel framework foam (Pd/NF). It provides a lot of active sites for H* adsorption and NO3− activation leading to a remarkable NH3 yield rate of 1.52 mmol cm−2 h−1 and a Faradaic efficiency of 78% at −1.4 V versus RHE. Notably, it maintains a high NH3 yield rate over 50 cycles in 25 h showing good stability. Remarkably, large‐area Pd/NF electrode (25 cm2) shows a NH3 yield of 174.25 mg h−1, be promising candidate for large‐area device for industrial application. In situ FTIR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations analysis confirm that the enrichment effect of Pd nanorods encourages the adsorption of H species for ammonia synthesis following a hydrogenation mechanism. This work brings a useful strategy for designing NO3−RR catalysts of nanorod arrays with customizable compositions.