Electrosynthesis of Nitrate via the Oxidation of Nitrogen on Tensile-Strained Palladium Porous Nanosheets

Nitrate is one of the essential raw ingredients in agriculture and industry. The electrochemical nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) is promising to replace the conventional nitrate synthesis industry with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission. Here, tensile-strained palladium porous nanosheets (Pd-s PNSs) were prepared. They exhibited enhanced activity for electrochemical NOR at ambient conditions, greatly outperforming Pd nanosheets. N-15 isotope labeling experiments proved that nitrate originated from nitrogen oxidation. Combining electrochemical in situ Raman and FTIR spectroscopy with density functional calculations, it was revealed that the tensile strain could facilitate the formation of NOR active species of PdO2, leading to high activity.

Automated summary

Nitrate is an essential raw material in agriculture and industry, but the electrochemical nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) shows potential to replace traditional nitrate synthesis with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Tensile-strained palladium porous nanosheets (Pd-s PNSs) were found to have enhanced activity for electrochemical NOR, outperforming Pd nanosheets. Experiments with N-15 isotope labeling confirmed that nitrate originates from nitrogen oxidation.