Rational Design of\na CoRu Nanoalloy-Embedded Carbon\nMatrix for Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction

The synthesis of ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) through the\nelectrocatalytic\nreduction of nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>) represents\na sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to ammonia production,\nwith significant implications for agricultural and chemical industries.\nHerein, we report the fabrication of a cobalt–ruthenium nanoalloy\nembedded in an N-doped carbon matrix (CoRu/NC) for NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis.\nX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)\nresults show a strong electronic interaction between Co and Ru, which\nis beneficial for enhancing the catalytic performance. Finally, it\nshows a remarkable onset potential of 0 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode\n(RHE) and the highest Faradaic efficiency of 96% for the production\nof NH<sub>3</sub> at −0.2 V vs RHE. The high performance of\nCoRu/NC is attributed to the synergistic effect between the Co and\nRu nanoalloys and the encapsulated carbon matrix. The desirable component\nof Ru in the alloy could improve the poor hydrogenation ability of\npure Co by providing atomic hydrogen (H*), which would facilitate\nthe hydrogenation of the intermediate nitrogen species during the\nnitrate reduction process. This work presents a promising strategy\nfor efficient and sustainable ammonia synthesis via nitrate reduction,\noffering insights into the design of advanced electrocatalysts for\nenergy and environmental applications.