Fe Nanoparticles Decorated Pinewood-Derived Carbon for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Conversion of Nitrite to Ammonia

Electrochemical nitrite (NO2-) reduction reaction (NO2-RR) presents a sustainable approach for the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia (NH3), concurrently facilitating the removal of NO2- contaminants. Developing NO2-RR electrocatalysts with high NH3 selectivity and satisfactory NH3 yield poses a significant challenge. Herein, we present Fe nanoparticles decorated pinewood-derived carbon (Fe/PC) as a highly proficient electrocatalyst for the conversion of NO2- to NH3. The well-designed Fe/PC electrocatalyst achieves an impressive NH3 yield of 21924.6 mu g h-1 cm-2 and a high Faradic efficiency of 91.5 % under ambient conditions. Notably, the Fe/PC catalyst exhibits robust stability in both prolonged electrolysis and cyclic electrolysis assessments. Fe nanoparticles decorated pinewood-derived carbon facilitates the ambient electrosynthesis of NH3 via efficient NO2- reduction, achieving a remarkably large NH3 yield of 21924.6 mu g h-1 cm-2 at -0.8 V and a high FE of 91.5 % at -0.5 V in 0.1 M NaOH with 0.1 M NO2-.image

Automated summary

This study presents a highly efficient Fe nanoparticle-decorated pinewood-derived carbon electrocatalyst for the conversion of NO2- to NH3. The catalyst exhibits impressive NH3 yield, high Faradic efficiency, and robust stability under ambient conditions.