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.
Authors
- Yihong Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8324-7460)
- Shuyi Kong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0416-5323)
- Tore Brinck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2673-075X)
- Fuqiang Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0526-5473)
- Lijia Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2439-0739)
- Xunlu Wang
- Huashuai Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1738-0878)
- Minghui Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1071-1327)
- Wei Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1135-7721)
- Jiacheng Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4327-1508)
- Junqing Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5949-5867)
- Hongbo Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8820-3907)
- Jintao Xu
- Hui Bi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6180-178X)
- Huong Thi Bui
Institutions
- 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)
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
Funders
- 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