LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Engineering a Kesterite‐Based Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from NOx Reduction

Photo by scentspiracy from unsplash

Ammonia is a key chemical feedstock for industry as well as future carbon‐free fuel and transportable vector for renewable energy. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) ammonia synthesis from NOx reduction reaction (NOxRR) provides… Click to show full abstract

Ammonia is a key chemical feedstock for industry as well as future carbon‐free fuel and transportable vector for renewable energy. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) ammonia synthesis from NOx reduction reaction (NOxRR) provides not only a promising alternative to the energy‐intensive Haber–Bosch process through direct solar‐to‐ammonia conversion, but a sustainable solution for balancing the global nitrogen cycle by restoring ammonia from wastewater. In this work, selective ammonia synthesis from PEC NOxRR by a kesterite (Cu2ZnSnS4 [CZTS]) photocathode through loading defect‐engineered TiOx cocatalyst on a CdS/CZTS photocathode (TiOx/CdS/CZTS) is demonstrated. The uniquely designed photocathode enables selective ammonia production from NOxRR, yielding up to 89.1% Faradaic efficiency (FE) (0.1 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) with a remarkable positive onset potential (0.38 V vs RHE). By tailoring the amount of surface defective Ti3+ species, the adsorption of reactant NO3− and *NO2 intermediate is significantly promoted while the full coverage of TiOx also suppresses NO2− liberation as a by‐product, contributing to high ammonia selectivity. Further attempts on PEC ammonia synthesis from simulated wastewater show good FE of 64.9%, unveiling the potential of using the kesterite‐based photocathode for sustainably restoring ammonia from nitrate‐rich wastewater.

Keywords: nox reduction; kesterite based; ammonia synthesis; ammonia; synthesis nox

Journal Title: Advanced Materials
Year Published: 2022

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.