2D Polymeric N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Copper Microsheets Enable Tandem Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia

Abstract Electrochemical nitrate reduction into ammonia represents a sustainable route for ammonia production, simultaneously contributing to the alleviation of water pollution. However, achieving a high yield rate and selectivity for ammonia remains a challenge for Cu‐based catalysts owing to the accumulation of competing nitrite. Herein, 2D polymeric N‐heterocyclic carbene copper microsheets are designed as tandem catalysts, with polymeric microsheets acting as tandem substrates to robustly anchor copper sites through N‐heterocyclic carbene. In this tandem catalyst, the reduction of nitrate to nitrite preferentially occurred at the copper sites. The resultant nitrite is concurrently adsorbed by polymeric microsheets, which in turn promotes its conversion kinetics into ammonia, thus minimizing the formation of nitrite byproducts. As a result, this tandem catalyst demonstrates an ammonia yield rate of 23.4 mg h −1 cm −2 , along with a Faradaic efficiency of 97% for ammonia, while maintaining stable performance throughout 30 consecutive cycles and 55 h of chronoamperometric operation. This work showcases the potential of polymeric N‐heterocyclic carbene as a novel class of tandem substrate for ammonia production and offers a polymeric platform for nitrate valorization and water purification.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-11-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202523772
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
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article

2D Polymeric N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Copper Microsheets Enable Tandem Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia

Kun Ni, Lei Zhang, Baoliang Zhang, Ran Du et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
article

2D Polymeric N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Copper Microsheets Enable Tandem Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia

Kun Ni, Lei Zhang, Baoliang Zhang, Ran Du, Bingqian Zhou, Qian Ren, Changlin Kou, Wenzhe Xu, Lingfeng Tang
article en

Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical nitrate reduction into ammonia represents a sustainable route for ammonia production, simultaneously contributing to the alleviation of water pollution. However, achieving a high yield rate and selectivity for ammonia remains a challenge for Cu‐based catalysts owing to the accumulation of competing nitrite. Herein, 2D polymeric N‐heterocyclic carbene copper microsheets are designed as tandem catalysts, with polymeric microsheets acting as tandem substrates to robustly anchor copper sites through N‐heterocyclic carbene. In this tandem catalyst, the reduction of nitrate to nitrite preferentially occurred at the copper sites. The resultant nitrite is concurrently adsorbed by polymeric microsheets, which in turn promotes its conversion kinetics into ammonia, thus minimizing the formation of nitrite byproducts. As a result, this tandem catalyst demonstrates an ammonia yield rate of 23.4 mg h −1 cm −2 , along with a Faradaic efficiency of 97% for ammonia, while maintaining stable performance throughout 30 consecutive cycles and 55 h of chronoamperometric operation. This work showcases the potential of polymeric N‐heterocyclic carbene as a novel class of tandem substrate for ammonia production and offers a polymeric platform for nitrate valorization and water purification.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 36(23)
Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN), Shenzhen Polytechnic University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
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2D Polymeric N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Copper Microsheets Enable Tandem Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia — Kun Ni, Lei Zhang, et al. · Advanced Functional Materials (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS