Hydroxyl-rich nanocavities on perovskite enable nearly barrierless intramolecular hydrogen transfer for nitrate electroreduction to ammonia

Abstract Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (NITRR) provides a sustainable avenue for simultaneous nitrate mitigation and ammonia synthesis, but the sluggish surface hydrogen migration during NITRR remains a major bottleneck. Here, we show a barrierless hydrogen transfer pathway along intramolecular hydrogen bonds between hydroxyls of hydroxyl-rich nanocavities for efficient nitrate electroreduction to ammonia. This nanocavity is constructed via electrochemical reduction-assisted selective Sr ions leaching on the La 0.4 Sr 0.6 FeO 3-δ perovskites. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the nanocavity features nanocavity-like architecture with hydroxyl-enriched walls, boosting active hydrogen generating and hopping for NO 3 - hydrogenation. Benefiting from such unusual intramolecular hydrogen transfer, the surface nanoconcaved La 0.4 Sr 0.6 FeO 3-δ achieves a Faradaic efficiency of 97.81 % and an ammonia yield rate of 51.37 mg h −1 cm −2 at −0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), surpassing nanocavity-free counterpart and ranking among superior NITRR catalysts. Ampere-level current density of nitrate-to-ammonia conversion are further realized in a renewable-energy-powered electrolyzer at a very low cell voltage of 2.23 V. Techno-economic analysis underscores dual benefits of this process including economic viability in ammonia synthesis and environmental impact in nitrate remediation.