Electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO3−) to ammonia (NH3) can target two birds with one stone well, in NO3−-containing sewage remediation and sustainable NH3 production. However, single metal-based catalysts are difficult to drive high-efficient NO3− removal due to the multi-electron transfer steps. Herein, we present a tandem catalyst with simple structure, Cu-Co binary metal oxides (Cu-Co-O), by engineering intermediate phases as catalytic active species for NO3− conversion. Electrochemical evaluation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ Raman spectra together suggest that the newly-generated Cu-based phases was prone to NO3− to NO2− conversion, then NO2− was reduced to NH3 on Co-based species. At an applied potential of −1.1 V vs. saturated calomel electrode, the Cu-Co-O catalyst achieved NO3−-N removal of 90% and NH3 faradaic efficiency of 81% for 120 min in 100 mL of 50 mg/L NO3−-N, consuming only 0.69 kWh/mol in a two-electrode system. This study provides a facile and efficient engineering strategy for developing high-performance catalysts for electrocatalytic nitrate conversion.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |