Descriptor‐Driven Design of Dual‐Active‐Site Electrocatalysts for Ammonia Synthesis

Abstract The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) offers a sustainable route to convert nitrate (NO 3 − ) pollutants into value‐added ammonia (NH 3 ). However, the NO 3 RR process still suffers from sluggish kinetics due to unfavorable NO 3 − adsorption and limited active hydrogen (*H) availability. Optimizing NO 3 − adsorption and increasing *H supply can enhance catalytic performance, yet incorporating these improvements into the rational design of high‐performance catalysts remains challenging. Here, a descriptor‐guided intermetallic design strategy is proposed that synergistically integrates NO 3 − ‐adsorbing metal sites with *H‐supplying counterparts to enhance NO 3 RR performance. Density functional theory calculations indicate that Co possesses ideal NO 3 − adsorption energy, while Ge effectively supplies *H. By constructing atomic ordered Co‐Ge intermetallic compounds (IMCs), NO 3 − adsorption and *H supply are simultaneously optimized. Among seven thermodynamically stable Co‐Ge IMCs, hexagonal Co 7 Ge 4 ( h ‐Co 7 Ge 4 ) exhibits the most favorable limiting potential and NH 3 selectivity, identifying it as the most promising NO 3 RR electrocatalyst. Experimental results confirm that carbon‐supported h ‐Co 7 Ge 4 /C achieves a FE of 97.8% and good stability, outperforming most reported NO 3 RR electrocatalysts.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Energy Materials
Published
2025-11-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202504325
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.39
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article

Descriptor‐Driven Design of Dual‐Active‐Site Electrocatalysts for Ammonia Synthesis

Yingxue Du, Jing Xia, Wenbin Cao, Huaifang Zhang et al.
1 citations
Advanced Energy Materials
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
0.39
article

Descriptor‐Driven Design of Dual‐Active‐Site Electrocatalysts for Ammonia Synthesis

Yingxue Du, Jing Xia, Wenbin Cao, Huaifang Zhang, Qipeng Lu, An‐Liang Wang, Xiangmin Meng, Yang Song, Sumei Han, Lijie Zhu, Fukai Feng, Xiao Ma, Chaoqun Ma, Xiaojuan Zhu, Caihong He, Gang Lin
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Abstract The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) offers a sustainable route to convert nitrate (NO 3 − ) pollutants into value‐added ammonia (NH 3 ). However, the NO 3 RR process still suffers from sluggish kinetics due to unfavorable NO 3 − adsorption and limited active hydrogen (*H) availability. Optimizing NO 3 − adsorption and increasing *H supply can enhance catalytic performance, yet incorporating these improvements into the rational design of high‐performance catalysts remains challenging. Here, a descriptor‐guided intermetallic design strategy is proposed that synergistically integrates NO 3 − ‐adsorbing metal sites with *H‐supplying counterparts to enhance NO 3 RR performance. Density functional theory calculations indicate that Co possesses ideal NO 3 − adsorption energy, while Ge effectively supplies *H. By constructing atomic ordered Co‐Ge intermetallic compounds (IMCs), NO 3 − adsorption and *H supply are simultaneously optimized. Among seven thermodynamically stable Co‐Ge IMCs, hexagonal Co 7 Ge 4 ( h ‐Co 7 Ge 4 ) exhibits the most favorable limiting potential and NH 3 selectivity, identifying it as the most promising NO 3 RR electrocatalyst. Experimental results confirm that carbon‐supported h ‐Co 7 Ge 4 /C achieves a FE of 97.8% and good stability, outperforming most reported NO 3 RR electrocatalysts.

Advanced Energy MaterialsVol. 16(2)
Shandong University (CN), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (CN), Beijing Information Science & Technology University (CN), Taiyuan University of Technology (CN), University of Science and Technology Beijing (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 37%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
0.39
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