Emerging Applications, Developments, Prospects, and Challenges of Electrochemical Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion

Ammonia is not only an important feedstock for chemical industry but also a carbon-free energy carrier and a safe storage media for hydrogen. Due to the advantages compared to Haber-Bosch process, electrochemical NO3--to-NH3 conversion via nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR) received attention. Recently, green hydrogen generated from water electrolysis shows promise to become the energy for future but limited by the safety of storage and transportation. This review proposes electrochemical NO3--to-NH3 conversion can store renewable electric energy and green hydrogen into NH3, which is a potential solution for solving the puzzle of green hydrogen storage and transportation. Moreover, the theoretical insights of NO3-RR and electrocatalyst design are discussed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in this field are elucidated. This review provides a novel perspective for NO3-RR and accelerates the development of effective electrocatalysts for NO3--to-NH3 conversion.

Automated summary

Electrochemical NO3-RR can store renewable electric energy and green hydrogen into NH3, providing a potential solution for green hydrogen storage and transportation.