Ultrasmall multivalent copper-cobalt heterojunction for electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate contaminants in water body
摘要
Nitrate contamination in water systems is a pressing environmental challenge, with substantial ecological and health implications. Current nitrate removal methods are limited by inefficiency, high energy demands, and secondary pollution. Electrocatalytic reduction, offering high efficiency and product selectivity at low energy input, holds promise for treating low-nitrate waters. This study presents an ultrasmall multivalent copper-cobalt (Cu-Co) heterojunction catalyst (MH-CuCo) synthesized via a solvothermal method. Utilizing the multivalent properties of copper and cobalt, this catalyst demonstrates high Faradaic efficiency (99.1%) for nitrate reduction and an ammonia yield of 3.65 mmol L−1 h−1 mg−1 at -0.6 V (vs. RHE). The Cu-Co heterojunction structure facilitates enhanced electron transfer and intermediate stabilization, ensuring selective nitrate reduction to nitrite and ammonia. The MH-CuCo catalyst maintains exceptional cycling stability and efficiency, positioning it as a promising solution for sustainable nitrate remediation.