FURI | Fall 2021

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate via Nickel Foam Modified with Copper-Cobalt Nanoparticles for Ammonia Selectivity

The standard Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia (NH₃) for use in agriculture applications is both energy and resource-intensive. This research advances a cost-effective alternative to ammonia production using catalytic activity tuned for ammonia production from nitrate reduction via three-dimensional nano-enabled electrodes. The combined electroactivity of copper and cobalt nanoparticles onto an affordable electrode medium (nickel foam) attained high nitrate removal efficiency of >85% and high ammonia selectivity in relevant laboratory conditions. These encouraging outcomes emphasize the potential of bimetallic electrodes to treat contaminated water sources with nitrate, while allowing a sustainable decentralized ammonia recovery as added value product.