Direct synthesis of ammonia from nitrate on amorphous graphene with near 100% efficiency

Involved Members: Dr. Ruquan YE, Dr. Zhiyuan ZENG

This paper presents a novel metal-free electrocatalyst for direct nitrate-to-ammonia electroreduction, an important process in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. The unique atomic properties of amorphous graphene facilitate the adsorption of intermediates and the formation of NH₃ during the NO₃ reduction process. The electro-reduced nitrate electrolyte can be used to grow vegetables and significantly increase crop yields. Compared to metal-based catalysts, this is the first report of a metal-free material with comparable or superior nitrate-to-NH₃ selectivity. These results have significant implications for the remediation of nitrate-contaminated water and the closing of the NO_X cycle.

Reference:
Huang, L., Cheng, L., Ma, T., Zhang, J.J., Wu, H., Su, J., Song, Y., Zhu, H., Liu, Q., Zhu, M., Zeng, Z.Y., He, Q., Tse, M.K., Yang, D.T., Yakobson, B. I., Tang, B. Z., Ren, Y., Ye, R.Q., (2023). Direct synthesis of ammonia from nitrate on amorphous graphene with near 100% efficiency. Advanced Materials, 35(24), 2211856. (impact factor: 32.086)

Image