Review on electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia: advances, challenges and future prospects

• Published in: Ionics Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 3091 - 3099
• Main Authors: Santhosh, C. R., Chinnam, Sampath, Madhu, G. M., Kottam, Nagaraju, Chigurupati, Sridevi, Sankannavar, Ravi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ammonia; Chemical reduction; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Haber Bosch process; Human influences; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Optical and Electronic Materials; Renewable and Green Energy; Review; Wastewater management; Wastewater treatment; Electrocatalysis; Environmental remediation; Sustainable energy; Nitrate reduction; Green ammonia
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-024-05578-2

Ammonia (NH 3 ), an indispensable component of the fertiliser industry, plays an important role in human life. Owing to negative environmental impacts and the high energy input of the industrial Haber-Bosch process, uncovering alternative sustainable technologies for NH 3 production is crucial. Anthropogenic activities leading to an imbalance in the nitrogen cycle have resulted in excessive nitrate (NO 3 − ) pollution. Electrochemical conversion of NO 3 − pollutant into value-added NH 3 is a recent trend in wastewater management. Additionally, this method provides an added leverage of circumventing the need for highly inert nitrogen gas as a precursor in electrochemical NH 3 synthesis. Therefore, the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO 3 − RR) with a higher production rate and faradaic efficiency could be an appealing route for wastewater treatment and sustainable NH 3 production. In this review article, an effort is made to provide an overview of the mechanisms involved, recent developments made on various electrocatalysts and also on NH 3 quantification methods in eNO 3 − RR. Finally, this review article emphasises existing challenges and future outlooks in this field of research. This review article promotes ongoing research endeavours in the efficient conversion of NO 3 − into NH 3 .