Stabilizing Cu0-Cuδ+ sites via ohmic contact interface engineering for ampere-level nitrate electroreduction to ammonia
The synergistic Cu<sup>0</sup>-Cu<sup>δ+</sup> sites are found as the active sites for NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis through nitrate electroreduction reaction, but still face significant challenges in stabilizing the Cu<sup>δ+</sup> due to its self-reduction. Here we propose an Ohmic contact interface engineering strategy by loading copper nano-islands on indium hydroxide nanocubes. Attributed to the lower work function of Cu than that of In(OH)<sub>3</sub> with n-type semiconductor nature, the electrons in Cu can transfer unimpededly to In(OH)<sub>3</sub> at the interface of Ohmic junction, triggering and stabilizing polarized Cu<sup>0</sup>-Cu<sup>δ+</sup> active sites. Cu@In(OH)<sub>3</sub> sustains both high NH<sub>3</sub> yield rate (4.28 mmol h<sup>-1</sup> mg<sub>cat.</sub><sup>-1</sup>) and Faradaic efficiency (97.35%) at -0.6 V vs. RHE, while maintaining stability for at least 120 h under an Ampere-level of 800 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>. Such Ohmic contact interface engineering approach allows for simultaneously constructing and stabilizing the Cu<sup>0</sup>-Cu<sup>δ+</sup> for the electrosynthesis of ammonia, as well as other value-added chemicals relying on above active sites.
Authors
- Hengjie Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6499-3935)
- Chenhui Yin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6200-3413)
- Xin Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9238-953X)
- Daobin Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8811-7646)
- Chunshuang Yan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3840-7052)
- Guihua Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3253-0749)
- Chade Lv (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0964-1037)
- Zeming Qi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6656-1677)
- Pin Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1601-7574)
- Li Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0585-8519)
- Zeyu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-5216)
- Chu Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2989-7486)
- Ming Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0152-7977)
- Dongqi Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5714-9626)
- Ruyu Yang
Institutions
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Harbin Institute of Technology (CN)
- Hefei National Center for Physical Sciences at Nanoscale (CN)
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (CN)
- Anhui Normal University (CN)
- Yangzhou University (CN)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-10-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63996-w
- Citations
- 21
- Primary Topic
- Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 8.17
Funders
- Salt Science Research Foundation
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province