Carbon dots boost nitrate-to-ammonia conversion via hydrogen evolution control in CDs/Ag nanocomposites

Abstract

We have developed a carbon dots/Ag (CDs/Ag) nanocomposite electrocatalyst for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction (NO₃RR) to ammonia, achieving a remarkable NH₃ faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.48% and an ammonia yield rate of 198.12 μmol h⁻¹ cm⁻² at −0.93 V vs. RHE. Harnessing the CDs’ ability to regulate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the presence of surface-active hydrogen (*H) on CDs/Ag effectively enhance the selectivity of silver nanomaterials toward ammonia synthesis.