Analysis and Research Progress of Nitrate Products in Electrocatalytic Reduction of Water (A Review)

Nitrate pollution in water bodies is becoming increasingly severe and has become an urgent issue to address. Electrocatalytic reduction is a green and environmentally friendly technology that can convert nitrates into NH3 and N2. To tackle the diversity of nitrate products from electrocatalytic reduction, this study first systematically elucidates the reaction mechanism, then analyzes the products, and finally reviews methods to improve N2 selectivity from aspects such as the reaction mechanism and cathode materials. It delves into the impact of cathode element selection, alloy doping, and structural design on N2 selectivity, aiming to provide guidance for research on electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate wastewater.