Coordination Symmetry Breaking of Single‐Atom Catalysts for Robust and Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

Abstract Nitrate electrocatalytic reduction (NO 3 RR) for ammonia production is a promising strategy to close the N‐cycle from nitration contamination, as well as an alternative to the Haber–Bosch process with less energy consumption and carbon dioxide release. However, current long‐term stability of NO 3 RR catalysts is usually tens of hours, far from the requirements for industrialization. Here, symmetry‐broken Cusingle‐atom catalysts are designed, and the catalytic activity is retained after operation for more than 2000 h, while an average ammonia production rate of 27.84 mg h −1 cm −2 at an industrial level current density of 366 mA cm −2 is achieved, obtaining a good balance between catalytic activity and…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 21938006
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2020M681714
• PA
  Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions