Fe3C nanoparticles decorated 3D nitrogen-doped carbon foam as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia

Electrochemical nitrate (NO3-) reduction is considered as a promising strategy to remove NO3--containing pol-lution with simultaneous production of ammonia (NH3) under ambient conditions. However, this reaction involves multi-electron transfer steps, which requires active electrocatalysts for high NH3 selectivity. Herein, we demonstrate the development of Fe3C nanoparticles decorated 3D nitrogen-doped carbon foam (Fe3C NPs@NCF) as an efficient electrocatalyst to reduce NO3- to NH3. Such Fe3C NPs@NCF attains a high Faradaic efficiency (96.9%) and a large NH3 yield (8391.8 mu g h-1 cm-2). More importantly, Fe3C NPs@NCF also delivers high stability.

Automated summary

In this study, Fe3C nanoparticles decorated 3D nitrogen-doped carbon foam (Fe3C NPs@NCF) were developed as an efficient electrocatalyst for the reduction of NO3- to NH3. The catalyst exhibited high Faradaic efficiency (96.9%) and a large NH3 yield (8391.8 mu g h-1 cm-2), along with excellent stability.