Laser‐Programmed Spatial Relay Catalysis on Co─Ag Dual Heterojunctions for Efficient Nitrate‐to‐Ammonia Conversion via Migratory *NO <sub>2</sub> Shuttling

Abstract Electrocatalytic nitrate (NO 3 − ) reduction to ammonia (NH 3 ) represents a sustainable strategy for wastewater treatment and green NH 3 production; however, its efficiency is limited by sluggish reaction kinetics and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we propose a laser‐programmed spatial relay catalysis strategy mediated by migratory *NO 2 intermediate on Co─Ag dual heterojunctions. Site‐selective laser irradiation of Ag‐predeposited Co foil generates spatially segregated interfaces, where hexagonal close‐packed (hcp)‐Co/face‐centered cubic (fcc)‐Co heterojunctions facilitate thermodynamically favorable NO 3 − deoxygenation, and Ag/hcp‐Co interfaces promote kinetically enhanced NO 2 − protonation. Operando spectroscopic analysis, combined with electrochemical differential mass spectrometry (DEMS), confirms the migratory relay mechanism involving *NO 2 transport between catalytic sites. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that interfacial charge redistribution enables distinct catalytic functions at interface sites. The phase‐transformation‐formed hcp‐Co/fcc‐Co heterojunctions enhance NO 3 − adsorption and reduce deoxygenation barriers, whereas Ag/hcp‐Co interfaces suppress HER and promote *NO hydrogenation by lowering the rate‐determining *NO→*NOH barrier to 0.25 eV via Fermi‐level d‐band engineering. This collaborative spatial design reaches 94.8% ± 3.4% Faradaic efficiency (FE) for NH 3 in nitrate‐to‐ammonia electroreduction at −0.4 V (versus RHE), with 92.5% activity retention over 50 cycles. It highlights the promise of interface‐driven relay catalysis in complex electrochemical systems and enables scalable electrode fabrication.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2025-09-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202515393
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.78
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article

Laser‐Programmed Spatial Relay Catalysis on Co─Ag Dual Heterojunctions for Efficient Nitrate‐to‐Ammonia Conversion via Migratory *NO 2 Shuttling

Yan Wu, Jianhui Geng, Sihan Ji
2 citations
Angewandte Chemie
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
0.78
article

Laser‐Programmed Spatial Relay Catalysis on Co─Ag Dual Heterojunctions for Efficient Nitrate‐to‐Ammonia Conversion via Migratory *NO 2 Shuttling

Yan Wu, Jianhui Geng, Sihan Ji
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract Electrocatalytic nitrate (NO 3 − ) reduction to ammonia (NH 3 ) represents a sustainable strategy for wastewater treatment and green NH 3 production; however, its efficiency is limited by sluggish reaction kinetics and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we propose a laser‐programmed spatial relay catalysis strategy mediated by migratory *NO 2 intermediate on Co─Ag dual heterojunctions. Site‐selective laser irradiation of Ag‐predeposited Co foil generates spatially segregated interfaces, where hexagonal close‐packed (hcp)‐Co/face‐centered cubic (fcc)‐Co heterojunctions facilitate thermodynamically favorable NO 3 − deoxygenation, and Ag/hcp‐Co interfaces promote kinetically enhanced NO 2 − protonation. Operando spectroscopic analysis, combined with electrochemical differential mass spectrometry (DEMS), confirms the migratory relay mechanism involving *NO 2 transport between catalytic sites. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that interfacial charge redistribution enables distinct catalytic functions at interface sites. The phase‐transformation‐formed hcp‐Co/fcc‐Co heterojunctions enhance NO 3 − adsorption and reduce deoxygenation barriers, whereas Ag/hcp‐Co interfaces suppress HER and promote *NO hydrogenation by lowering the rate‐determining *NO→*NOH barrier to 0.25 eV via Fermi‐level d‐band engineering. This collaborative spatial design reaches 94.8% ± 3.4% Faradaic efficiency (FE) for NH 3 in nitrate‐to‐ammonia electroreduction at −0.4 V (versus RHE), with 92.5% activity retention over 50 cycles. It highlights the promise of interface‐driven relay catalysis in complex electrochemical systems and enables scalable electrode fabrication.

Angewandte ChemieVol. 137(48)
Anhui Jianzhu University (CN), Hefei University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 28%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
0.78
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Laser‐Programmed Spatial Relay Catalysis on Co─Ag Dual Heterojunctions for Efficient Nitrate‐to‐Ammonia Conversion via Migratory *NO <sub>2</sub> Shuttling — Yan Wu, Jianhui Geng, et al. · Angewandte Chemie (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS