Industrial‐current Ammonia Synthesis by Polarized Cuprous Cyanamide Coupled to Valorization of Glycerol at 4,000 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>

The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction (NO<sub>3</sub>RR) holds significance in both NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis and nitrate contamination remediation. However, achieving industrial-scale current and high stability in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer remains challenging due to inherent high full-cell voltage for sluggish NO<sub>3</sub>RR and water oxidation. Here, Cu<sub>2</sub>NCN with positive surface electrostatic potential V<sub>S</sub>(r) is applied as highly efficient NO<sub>3</sub>RR electrocatalysts to achieve industrial-current and low-voltage stable NH<sub>3</sub> production in MEA electrolyzer with coupled anodic glycerol oxidation. This paired electro-refinery (PER) system reaches 4000 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> at 2.52 V and remains stable at industrial-level 1000 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> for 100 h with the NH<sub>3</sub> production rate of 97000 µg<sub>NH3</sub> h<sup>-1</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup> and a Faradaic efficiency of 83%. Theoretical calculations elucidate that the asymmetric and electron-withdrawing [N-C≡N] units enhance polarization and V<sub>S</sub>(r), promoting robust and asymmetric adsorption of NO<sub>3</sub> <sup>*</sup> on Cu<sub>2</sub>NCN to facilitate O-N bond dissociation. A comprehensive techno-economic analysis demonstrates the profitability and commercial viability of this coupled system. Our work opens a new avenue and marks a significant advancement in MEA systems for industrial NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2025-02-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418451
Citations
45
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
17.50

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article

Industrial‐current Ammonia Synthesis by Polarized Cuprous Cyanamide Coupled to Valorization of Glycerol at 4,000 mA cm−2

Yihong Liu, Shuyi Kong, Tore Brinck, Fuqiang Huang et al.
45 citations
Advanced Materials
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
17.50
article

Industrial‐current Ammonia Synthesis by Polarized Cuprous Cyanamide Coupled to Valorization of Glycerol at 4,000 mA cm−2

Yihong Liu, Shuyi Kong, Tore Brinck, Fuqiang Huang, Lijia Liu, Xunlu Wang, Huashuai Hu, Minghui Yang, Wei Chen, Jiacheng Wang, Junqing Ma, Hongbo Zhu, Jintao Xu, Hui Bi, Huong Thi Bui
article en
45 citations

Abstract

The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction (NO<sub>3</sub>RR) holds significance in both NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis and nitrate contamination remediation. However, achieving industrial-scale current and high stability in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer remains challenging due to inherent high full-cell voltage for sluggish NO<sub>3</sub>RR and water oxidation. Here, Cu<sub>2</sub>NCN with positive surface electrostatic potential V<sub>S</sub>(r) is applied as highly efficient NO<sub>3</sub>RR electrocatalysts to achieve industrial-current and low-voltage stable NH<sub>3</sub> production in MEA electrolyzer with coupled anodic glycerol oxidation. This paired electro-refinery (PER) system reaches 4000 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> at 2.52 V and remains stable at industrial-level 1000 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> for 100 h with the NH<sub>3</sub> production rate of 97000 µg<sub>NH3</sub> h<sup>-1</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup> and a Faradaic efficiency of 83%. Theoretical calculations elucidate that the asymmetric and electron-withdrawing [N-C≡N] units enhance polarization and V<sub>S</sub>(r), promoting robust and asymmetric adsorption of NO<sub>3</sub> <sup>*</sup> on Cu<sub>2</sub>NCN to facilitate O-N bond dissociation. A comprehensive techno-economic analysis demonstrates the profitability and commercial viability of this coupled system. Our work opens a new avenue and marks a significant advancement in MEA systems for industrial NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis.

Advanced MaterialsVol. 37(14)
Western University (CA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Nankai University (CN), Dalian University of Technology (CN), Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (CN), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US), Taizhou University (CN), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Vetenskapsrådet, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
17.50
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