Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity
The rise in nitrogen-containing compounds in water sources due to modern agricultural practices has intensified the need to effectively convert nitrate to ammonia, a valuable fertiliser and fuel. We developed a photo-assisted electrocatalytic system using a NiO/Au plasmon/TiO2 composite to selective...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Applied Catalysis O: Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950648424001032 |
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| author | Vitor R. Silveira Daniel F. Fernandes Robert Bericat-Vadell Tomas Edvinsson Tomas Kubart Jacinto Sá |
| author_facet | Vitor R. Silveira Daniel F. Fernandes Robert Bericat-Vadell Tomas Edvinsson Tomas Kubart Jacinto Sá |
| author_sort | Vitor R. Silveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rise in nitrogen-containing compounds in water sources due to modern agricultural practices has intensified the need to effectively convert nitrate to ammonia, a valuable fertiliser and fuel. We developed a photo-assisted electrocatalytic system using a NiO/Au plasmon/TiO2 composite to selectively reduce nitrate to ammonia under visible light, at neutral pH, and at room temperature. TiO2 was found to be the active catalyst, but the precise active structure responsible for each catalytic step remains unclear, as the reaction involves a complex, multistep process. By analyzing the catalytic activity of different TiO2 phases, we found that amorphous TiO2 significantly enhances the nitrate-to-nitrite reduction step, increasing nitrite concentration in solution by nearly 50 % and resulting in a 10 % increase in Faradaic efficiency for this product. Conversely, the rutile phase plays a crucial role in the subsequent conversion of nitrite to ammonia. When the rutile phase was present, the ammonia yield more than doubled, leading to a 30 % increase in Faradaic efficiency. This phase-dependent behaviour provides critical insights into improving nitrate reduction efficiency, enabling sustainable agricultural practices that recycle nutrients, reduce fertiliser costs, and promote economic sustainability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd11849e09ba4132884f2af9e23430ec |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2950-6484 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Catalysis O: Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd11849e09ba4132884f2af9e23430ec2025-08-20T02:50:20ZengElsevierApplied Catalysis O: Open2950-64842024-12-0119720701710.1016/j.apcato.2024.207017Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activityVitor R. Silveira0Daniel F. Fernandes1Robert Bericat-Vadell2Tomas Edvinsson3Tomas Kubart4Jacinto Sá5Physical Chemistry Division, Department of Chemistry - Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 20 Uppsala, SwedenDivision of Solid-State Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 03 Uppsala, SwedenPhysical Chemistry Division, Department of Chemistry - Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 20 Uppsala, SwedenDivision of Solid-State Physics, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 03 Uppsala, SwedenDivision of Solid-State Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 03 Uppsala, SwedenPhysical Chemistry Division, Department of Chemistry - Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden; Institution Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Marcina Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland; Corresponding author at: Physical Chemistry Division, Department of Chemistry - Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.The rise in nitrogen-containing compounds in water sources due to modern agricultural practices has intensified the need to effectively convert nitrate to ammonia, a valuable fertiliser and fuel. We developed a photo-assisted electrocatalytic system using a NiO/Au plasmon/TiO2 composite to selectively reduce nitrate to ammonia under visible light, at neutral pH, and at room temperature. TiO2 was found to be the active catalyst, but the precise active structure responsible for each catalytic step remains unclear, as the reaction involves a complex, multistep process. By analyzing the catalytic activity of different TiO2 phases, we found that amorphous TiO2 significantly enhances the nitrate-to-nitrite reduction step, increasing nitrite concentration in solution by nearly 50 % and resulting in a 10 % increase in Faradaic efficiency for this product. Conversely, the rutile phase plays a crucial role in the subsequent conversion of nitrite to ammonia. When the rutile phase was present, the ammonia yield more than doubled, leading to a 30 % increase in Faradaic efficiency. This phase-dependent behaviour provides critical insights into improving nitrate reduction efficiency, enabling sustainable agricultural practices that recycle nutrients, reduce fertiliser costs, and promote economic sustainability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950648424001032Nitrate-to-ammoniaPhoto-assisted electrocatalysisCatalyst active phaseSustainable and recyclable production of fertilisers |
| spellingShingle | Vitor R. Silveira Daniel F. Fernandes Robert Bericat-Vadell Tomas Edvinsson Tomas Kubart Jacinto Sá Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity Applied Catalysis O: Open Nitrate-to-ammonia Photo-assisted electrocatalysis Catalyst active phase Sustainable and recyclable production of fertilisers |
| title | Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity |
| title_full | Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity |
| title_fullStr | Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity |
| title_short | Phase-dependent photo-assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using TiO2: Insights into amorphous and rutile activity |
| title_sort | phase dependent photo assisted electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate to ammonia using tio2 insights into amorphous and rutile activity |
| topic | Nitrate-to-ammonia Photo-assisted electrocatalysis Catalyst active phase Sustainable and recyclable production of fertilisers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950648424001032 |
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