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Cu Electrodeposited Catalysts for a Sustainable Electrochemical Reaction of Nitrate with Ammonia
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1  Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
2  N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Academic Editor: Luis Cerdán

Abstract:

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia (NRR) is a green alternative to the Haber–Bosch process. This reaction is carried out at room temperature and pressure but has low efficiency due to the difficulties associated with breaking the nitrogen triple bond. It is possible to replace the traditional reaction with a nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR). In addition, achieving electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3) to ammonia (NH3) is an urgent and important task from the point of view of economics and environmental protection. The unique electronic structure and large reserves of transition metals have led to transition metal-based catalysts being widely studied in the field of the electrochemical conversion of NO3to NH3. Copper-based catalysts have a special electronic structure and exhibit the highest activity and selectivity among single-component metal catalysts for the NO3RR electrochemical reaction. The unique electronic configuration of copper on the surface promotes adsorption and electron transfer between nitrate ions, which can effectively inhibit the HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) and promote the initial conversion of NO3to NH3. In this study, the catalytic efficiency of copper electrodeposited catalysts in the NO3RR reaction was studied. The conversion of NO3to NH3 involves a complex transfer of eight electrons and many intermediates. The reaction was carried out at a controlled potential, which was previously established using the method of linear voltammetry. The catalysts were represented by copper and graphite substrates with electrodeposited copper particles on the surface. It was shown that the catalysts have a certain level of catalytic activity. Calculations of Faradaic efficiency showed values of up to 29%. All the electrocatalysts were characterized by SEM, EDX, and other modern methods. This study is a composite, but at the same time complete, part of other work focused on the synthesis of new catalysts for NO3RR and NRR.

Keywords: synthesis of ammonia; nitrate reduction; electrocatalysis; sustainable chemistry; energy chemistry; Cu catalyst
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