Electrocatalytic systems for NOx upgrading

Abstract

Chemical manufacturing utilizing renewable resources and energy presents a promising avenue toward sustainability and carbon neutrality. Electrocatalytic upgrading of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) into nitrogenous chemicals is a potential strategy for synthesizing chemicals and mitigating NO_x pollution. However, this approach is currently hindered by low selectivity and efficiency, limited reaction pathways, and economic challenges, primarily due to the development of suboptimal electrocatalytic systems for NO_x upgrading. In this review, we focus on electrocatalytic systems for NO_x upgrading and discuss newly developed components, including catalysts, solvents, electrolysers, and upstream/downstream processes. These advancements enable recent developments in NO_x upgrading reactions that yield various products, including green ammonia (NH₃), dinitrogen (N₂), nitrogenous chemicals beyond NH₃ and N₂ (e.g., hydroxylamine and hydrazine), and organonitrogen compunds. Additionally, we provide an outlook to highlight future directions in the emerging field of novel electrocatalytic systems for NO_x upgrading.