Boosting electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia via Cu 2 O/Cu(OH) 2 heterostructures promoting electron transfer

Electrocatalytic nitrate ( NO_3^ - ) reduction to ammonia (NH 3 ) offers a viable approach for sustainable NH 3 production and environmental denitrification. Copper (Cu) possesses a distinctive electronic structure, which can augment the reaction kinetics of NO_3^ - and impede hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), rendering it a promising contender for the electrosynthesis of NH 3 from NO_3^ - . Nevertheless, the role of Cu 2 O in copper-based catalysts still requires further investigation for a more comprehensive understanding. Herein, the Cu 2 O/Cu(OH) 2 heterostructures are successfully fabricated through liquid laser irradiation using CuO nanoparticles as a precursor. Experimental and theoretical researches reveal that Cu 2 O/Cu(OH) 2 heterostructure exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic performance for NO_3^ - to NH 3 because Cu(OH) 2 promotes electron transfer and reduces the valence state of Cu active site in Cu 2 O. At −0.6 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), the NH 3 yield reaches its maximum at 1630.66 ± 29.72 μ g·h^ - 1·mg_cat^ - 1 , while the maximum of Faraday efficiency (FE) is 76.95