Dual-function FeCo bimetallic nanoclusters for ammonia electrosynthesis from nitrate/nitrite reduction

Ammonia (NH₃) plays a vital role in agriculture and chemical manufacturing, yet its conventional production is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. Developing cleaner, more efficient alternatives is essential. Here we show a newly developed dual-metal nanocluster catalyst, Fe₂Co₁/NC, that effectively converts nitrate and nitrite pollutants into NH₃ through an electrochemical process. This catalyst achieves high NH₃ production rates and Faradaic efficiency, surpassing single-metal Fe/NC and Co/NC catalysts, and remains stable over extended use. When incorporated into nitrate- or nitrite-based zinc batteries, the system enables simultaneous NH₃ production and electricity generation, highlighting its potential for coupled energy recovery and environmental remediation. This work provides valuable design principles for bimetallic nanocluster catalysts and offers a promising strategy for the sustainable conversion of nitrogen-containing waste into useful chemicals.