Insights into lattice oxygen and strains of oxide-derived copper for ammonia electrosynthesis from nitrate

Electrocatalytic NO3− reduction (eNO3RR) is a sustainable method for purification of NO3− wastewater and NH3 recovery. Cu-based catalysts are promising for eNO3RR, but insufficient active hydrogen (*H) supply and *NO2 poison of active sites have hindered their performance, and the catalytic mechanism remains ambiguous. Here, we report oxide-derived copper nanosheet arrays (OD-Cu NSs) with residual lattice oxygen and lattice strains to enhance NH3 synthesis from eNO3RR. It is efficient for NH3 synthesis with high Faradaic efficiencies of 88.7-99.7% and maximum NH3 yield of 6.20 mmol·h−1·cm−2 at neutral solution, 10-140 mM NO3− and 50-1500 mA·cm−2. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that lattice oxygen…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22222601, 22076019
• NO
  National Outstanding Youth Foundation of China

  Award: 22222601
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Award: DUT23LAB611