Pd Clusters Loaded with Multivalent Cu Foam for Superior Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction and Selective N≡N Bond Formation

Abstract

AbstractThe electrochemical denitrification of nitrate (NO3−) in actual wastewater to nitrogen (N2) is an effective approach to reversing the current imbalance of the nitrogen cycle and the eutrophication of water. However, electrostatic repulsion between NO3− and the cathode results in the low efficiency of NO3− reduction reaction (NO3RR). Here, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used as a theoretical guide to design a Pd cluster‐loaded multivalent Cu foam (Pd/Cu2O‐CF) electrocatalyst, which achieves a splendid 97.8% NO3− removal rate, 97.9% N2 selectivity, 695.5 mg N g−1Pd h−1 reduction efficiency, and 60.0% Faradaic efficiency at −1.3 V versus SCE. The projected density of states (pDOS) indicates that NO3− and Pd/Cu2O‐CF are bonded via strong complexation between the O 2p (in NO3−) and Cu 3d (in Cu2O) with the input of voltage, which reduces the electrostatic repulsion and enhances the enrichment of NO3− on the cathode. In‐situ characterizations demonstrate that Pd[H] can reduce Cu2O to Cu, and subsequently Cu reduces NO3− to nitrite (NO2−) accompanied by in situ reconfiguration of multivalent Cu foam. NO2− is then transferred to the surface of Pd clusters by the cascade catalysis and accelerates the breaking of N─O bonds to form Pd─N, and eventually achieves the N≡N bond formation.