Issue 7, 2022

Reconstruction-induced NiCu-based catalysts towards paired electrochemical refining

Abstract

A paired electrochemical refinery toward the cathodic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) and anodic glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) driven by renewable electricity could generate high value-added ammonia and formic acid simultaneously. However, both cathode and anode electrocatalysts often suffer from low efficiency and unclear reconstruction. Herein, we prepare a non-noble NiCu–OH nanocomposite precatalyst composed of crystalline Cu2(OH)3(NO3) and amorphous Ni(OH)2, which can be reconstructed into high-activity and stable cathodic NO3RR and anodic GOR electrocatalysts under operating conditions. Various in situ and ex situ experiments demonstrate that NiCu–OH could convert into active Cu nanoparticles coupled with amorphous Ni(OH)2 under cathodic NO3RR conditions. Meanwhile, under anodic GOR conditions, NiCu–OH-derived bimetal oxide (NiCuO) changes into active NiOOH species composited with Cu vacancy-rich CuO. Furthermore, an actual paired electrochemical refinery with the reconstructed NiCu-based catalysts toward the NO3RR and GOR shows a low potential of 1.37 V at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 to continuously produce ammonium and formate. This study provides a new paradigm for the design of an electrochemical refinery with reconstructed non-noble electrocatalysts toward chemical upgradation.

Graphical abstract: Reconstruction-induced NiCu-based catalysts towards paired electrochemical refining

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Feb 2022
Accepted
12 May 2022
First published
12 May 2022

Energy Environ. Sci., 2022,15, 3004-3014

Reconstruction-induced NiCu-based catalysts towards paired electrochemical refining

S. Li, P. Ma, C. Gao, L. Liu, X. Wang, M. Shakouri, R. Chernikov, K. Wang, D. Liu, R. Ma and J. Wang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2022, 15, 3004 DOI: 10.1039/D2EE00461E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements