Boosting Nitrate to Ammonia via the Optimization of Key Intermediate Processes by Low‐Coordinated Cu–Cu Sites

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NO 3 RR) has emerged as a promising but challenging orientation in sustainable development. Cu is one of the most effective NO 3 RR catalysts. However, the accumulation of NO 2 − on their surface has erected bars to the further improvement of NO 3 RR efficiency. Herein, Cu‐based electrocatalyst with low‐coordinated Cu atoms (Cu‐LC) is synthesized via the instantaneous ablation and rapid cooling of the Cu target by pulse laser and proposed as a new NO 3 RR electrocatalyst, which exhibits enhanced NO 3 RR activity with NH 3 selectivity of 97.01%, yield rate of 0.624 mmol h −1 cm −2 at −0.8 V versus RHE and long‐term durability, superior to most…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: U2003132, U22A20145, 52271159
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2021YFA1600202
• HM
  High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences