Alloying Pd with Ru enables electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia with ∼100% faradaic efficiency over a wide potential window.

Electrocatalytic nitrate (NO) reduction reaction (eNORR) to ammonia under ambient conditions is deemed a sustainable route for wastewater treatment and a promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. However, there is still a lack of efficient electrocatalysts to achieve high NH production performance at wastewater-relevant low NO concentrations. Herein, we report a PdRu bimetallic nanocrystal (NC) electrocatalyst capable of exhibiting an average NH FE of ∼100% over a wide potential window from 0.

Engineering High Voltage Aqueous Aluminum-Ion Batteries.

The energy transition to renewables necessitates innovative storage solutions beyond the capacities of lithium-ion batteries. Aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs), particularly their aqueous variants (AAIBs), have emerged as potential successors due to their abundant resources, electrochemical advantages, and eco-friendliness. However, they grapple with achieving their theoretical voltage potential, often yielding less than expected.

Balanced NO and Proton Adsorption for Efficient Electrocatalytic NO to NH Conversion.

Electrocatalytic nitrate (NO)/nitrite (NO) reduction reaction (eNORR) to ammonia under ambient conditions presents a green and promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. Practically available NO sources, such as wastewater or plasma-enabled nitrogen oxidation reaction (p-NOR), typically have low NO concentrations. Hence, electrocatalyst engineering is important for practical eNORR to obtain both high NH Faradaic efficiency (FE) and high yield rate.