Electrochemical oxidation of nitrogen towards direct nitrate production on spinel oxides
Nitrates are widely used as fertilizer and oxidizing agents. Commercial nitrate production from nitrogen involves high-temperature-high-pressure multi-step processes. Therefore, an alternative nitrate production method under ambient environment is of importance. Herein, an electrochemical nitrogen o...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/170448 |
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| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Nitrates are widely used as fertilizer and oxidizing agents. Commercial nitrate production from nitrogen involves high-temperature-high-pressure multi-step processes. Therefore, an alternative nitrate production method under ambient environment is of importance. Herein, an electrochemical nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) approach is developed to produce nitrate catalyzed by ZnFexCo2−xO4 spinel oxides. Theoretical and experimental results show Fe aids the formation of the first N−O bond on the *N site, while high oxidation state Co assists in stabilizing the absorbed OH− for the generation of the second and third N−O bonds. Owing to the concerted catalysis, the ZnFe0.4Co1.6O4 oxide demonstrates the highest nitrate production rate of 130±12 μmol h−1 gMO−1 at an applied potential of 1.6 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). |
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