Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges
Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to dinitrogen (N2) offers a sustainable, carbon-neutral approach to mitigate nitrate pollution by transforming nitrate into an environmentally benign end-product. While extensive research has focused on ammonia production, selective N2 production remains challen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Electrochemistry Communications |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125001031 |
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| author | Jiayu Chen Anni Wu Yongfeng Xie Yumin Zhang Hu Zheng Wei Teng |
| author_facet | Jiayu Chen Anni Wu Yongfeng Xie Yumin Zhang Hu Zheng Wei Teng |
| author_sort | Jiayu Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to dinitrogen (N2) offers a sustainable, carbon-neutral approach to mitigate nitrate pollution by transforming nitrate into an environmentally benign end-product. While extensive research has focused on ammonia production, selective N2 production remains challenging due to complex pathways, limitations in detection, and the difficulty of controlling reaction on the electrocatalysts. This review provides an overview of current progress in this field, focusing on mechanistic insights, N2 detection methods, and advances in catalyst design. Various classes of electrocatalysts, including monometallic, bimetallic, and single-atom systems, oxide-based and carbon-based materials, examining how their structures regulate key intermediates and NN coupling. The influence of operational parameters such as applied potential, electrolyte, pH, and reactor design is also reviewed. Despite significant advances, challenges remain in understanding interfacial mechanisms and achieving high N2 selectivity under realistic conditions. This review aims to offer timely insights and guidance for the future development of efficient electrocatalytic systems toward selective nitrate-to-N2 conversion, advancing environmental remediation and sustainable nitrogen management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd27fbc45a0f4cefa6eedecf4aef5267 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1388-2481 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electrochemistry Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd27fbc45a0f4cefa6eedecf4aef52672025-08-20T03:09:04ZengElsevierElectrochemistry Communications1388-24812025-08-0117710796410.1016/j.elecom.2025.107964Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challengesJiayu Chen0Anni Wu1Yongfeng Xie2Yumin Zhang3Hu Zheng4Wei Teng5State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR ChinaKey Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR ChinaKey Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China; Corresponding author.Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to dinitrogen (N2) offers a sustainable, carbon-neutral approach to mitigate nitrate pollution by transforming nitrate into an environmentally benign end-product. While extensive research has focused on ammonia production, selective N2 production remains challenging due to complex pathways, limitations in detection, and the difficulty of controlling reaction on the electrocatalysts. This review provides an overview of current progress in this field, focusing on mechanistic insights, N2 detection methods, and advances in catalyst design. Various classes of electrocatalysts, including monometallic, bimetallic, and single-atom systems, oxide-based and carbon-based materials, examining how their structures regulate key intermediates and NN coupling. The influence of operational parameters such as applied potential, electrolyte, pH, and reactor design is also reviewed. Despite significant advances, challenges remain in understanding interfacial mechanisms and achieving high N2 selectivity under realistic conditions. This review aims to offer timely insights and guidance for the future development of efficient electrocatalytic systems toward selective nitrate-to-N2 conversion, advancing environmental remediation and sustainable nitrogen management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125001031Electrocatalytic nitrate reductionN2 selectivityElectrocatalyst designReaction mechanismSustainable electrocatalysis |
| spellingShingle | Jiayu Chen Anni Wu Yongfeng Xie Yumin Zhang Hu Zheng Wei Teng Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges Electrochemistry Communications Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction N2 selectivity Electrocatalyst design Reaction mechanism Sustainable electrocatalysis |
| title | Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges |
| title_full | Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges |
| title_fullStr | Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges |
| title_short | Selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen: Mechanisms, catalysts, and challenges |
| title_sort | selective electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to dinitrogen mechanisms catalysts and challenges |
| topic | Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction N2 selectivity Electrocatalyst design Reaction mechanism Sustainable electrocatalysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125001031 |
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